To the Grave and Beyond:

excerpt:

"Death As a Beginning: In West Africa, dying is not seen as a tragedy, but rather as a rite of passage or initiation. Birth, death and rebirth are on a continuum and the spirit is preserved eternally. If given a proper funeral, the deceased will become an ancestor. Ancestors are regarded as the most powerful members of society. In traditional West African cultures, ancestor worship is a daily practice. The dead are revered and honored through sacrifice, annual festivals and personal worship."