Luanda Vihiga: Chaos as Father Demands Reggae Be Played During Son’s Burial, Sparking Clash With Church Leaders
A dramatic scene unfolded in Luanda, Vihiga County, after emotions ran high during the burial of a young man who had died in a tragic road accident.
What started as a solemn ceremony quickly turned chaotic when the deceased’s father made an unusual request — he wanted reggae music to be played in honor of his late son.
Everything was going smoothly until the father stood up to give his tribute. In the middle of his emotional speech, he asked the DJ to play a reggae song, saying it was the only way to celebrate his son’s life and send him off with dignity.
The request, however, did not sit well with the church officials presiding over the funeral. They immediately opposed the idea, insisting that reggae music could not be played using church instruments.
The church leaders argued that such music did not align with the sanctity of a Christian burial service. But their firm stand only angered the grieving father, who accused them of being insensitive and disrespectful to his son’s memory.
Witnesses said the man became furious and threatened to call off the burial entirely if his wish was not granted. He even told mourners to leave his compound, insisting that his son’s send-off would not continue under church restrictions.
The father, still emotional, explained that his son had loved reggae deeply and had always identified with its message of peace and positivity. According to him, the young man had found comfort and joy in reggae, and it would be unfair to deny him that identity even in death.
After several minutes of tense standoff and heated exchange, the DJ decided to cautiously honor the father’s wish. He played “Gospel of Jah” by Shasha Marley — a reggae gospel song that carries a powerful spiritual message. The moment the song started playing, the father broke into dance, overwhelmed with emotion. Many mourners joined in, moved by the touching tribute that celebrated the life of the deceased in a unique way.
However, the joy did not last long. Church officials quickly ordered the DJ to stop the music, leading to yet another confrontation. The sudden interruption upset the father and left the mourners in confusion as emotions ran high once again.
The incident later spread on social media, attracting a wave of mixed reactions. Many Kenyans sympathized with the grieving father, saying he had the right to mourn his son in whatever way felt meaningful to him.
Some felt that the church had overreacted and should have shown compassion rather than enforcing strict rules at such a sensitive moment.
Online Reactions
- Benson Onyango wrote: “Churches sometimes misinterpret the Bible. The song played was actually a gospel reggae — ‘Gospel of Jah’. It still praises God.”
- Nyargi Yawuwi commented: “Let the man mourn. Death is painful. In fact, we should consider simpler burials like Muslims do. The endless rituals just add more pain.”
- Lukano Son said: “Nobody can stop reggae. I’ve already told my family that when I die, they should play pure roots reggae until the very end.”
- Wornicks Gisemba added humorously: “Even David in the Bible was a musician. Music is a gift from God. If David were here, he’d be playing reggae. Nobody can stop reggae!”
The incident has since sparked a national conversation about cultural expression, freedom of mourning, and the balance between religious traditions and personal wishes during funerals.
Many agreed that while churches have their guidelines, empathy and understanding should always come first when dealing with grieving families.
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