Home / Current Issue / Paper 1709042
Examination of Symbolic Objects Used in Tachoni Last Rituals for Transition of the Dead
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Religion
Abstract
Symbolic objects in death rituals serve as crucial mediators between physical and spiritual realms, embodying complex cultural meanings that facilitate the deceased's transition to ancestral status. This study examined the symbolic objects utilized in Tachoni last rituals for the transition of the dead to the spirit world, exploring their types, meanings, preparation protocols, and contemporary adaptations. A qualitative research design was employed with 200 purposively selected participants from Ndivisi location, Bungoma County, Kenya. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and questionnaires. Thematic analysis revealed six major categories of symbolic objects: traditional herbs and plants for purification and protection; oil lamps and lighting elements serving as spiritual guides; ceremonial cloths and textiles marking identity and status; sacred stones and natural materials connecting to ancestral power; ritual tools and instruments facilitating spiritual communication; and modern adaptations including photographs and religious texts. Each object category demonstrated specific preparation protocols, gender-based handling restrictions, and deep symbolic significance linked to Tachoni cosmology. Variations in object usage were primarily influenced by the deceased's age, social status, cause of death, and regional differences. Despite modernization pressures, traditional objects maintain high spiritual efficacy, though adaptations include the incorporation of modern materials and Christian or Islamic elements. The study reveals how symbolic objects function as dynamic cultural technologies that negotiate between tradition and modernity while maintaining core spiritual functions.
Keywords
Tachoni community, symbolic objects, death rituals, material culture, spiritual transition, cultural adaptation
References
[1] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597.
[2] Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
[3] Gyekye, K. (2018). African cultural values: An introduction. Sankofa Publishing.
[4] Hallam, E., & Hockey, J. (2017). Death, memory and material culture. Berg Publishers.
[5] Miller, D. (2017). Material culture and mass consumption. Blackwell Publishers.
[6] Ranger, T., & Werbner, R. (2020). Postcolonial identities in Africa. Zed Books.
[7] Wiredu, K. (2018). Cultural universals and particulars: An African perspective. Indiana University Press.
[8] [Some characters in this reference could not be displayed correctly — please refer to the published PDF for the full reference.]
[9] $„8¤^„8a$gd#ú$ &F„7„Éý¤^„7`„Éýa$gdÊL˜$''#'ò(ó(û(ü()Þ)ß)*ž,Ÿ,·,®.¯.É.ž0Ÿ0É0‘2’2°2F4õõõõõàÕõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõ „h¤^„hgd#ú$ &F„7„Éý¤^„7`„Éýa$gdÊL $¤a$gd#úF4G4`4Ö5×5û5(7)7: :¹<º<8?¥A¦AªC«CÅC'E(ENHOH|K}K¹NºNQQ)Qõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõ $¤a$gd#úû6(7)7)9:: :);¸<¹<º<)=)?8?)A¤A¥A¦A)C©CªC«CÅC&E'E(E)E)GMHNHOH)I)K{K|K}K)M¸N¹NºN)OQQQ)Q…R†R‡R)S)U”V•V–V)W)YóY)[)]D]E]F])_ý_þ_ÿ_`)a{a|a|cÎdÏdÐd|e|g&h'h(h|i<k=kñåññÙÊññÙÊñññññÙÊññÙÊññÙÊñññÙÊñññÙÊññÙÊññÙÊññÙÊñññÙÊññññññÙÊññÙÊñññÙññÙÊñññÙÊññÙh#úh§@ÙCJOJQJaJh#úCJOJQJaJhÊLCJOJQJaJh#úh#úCJOJQJaJP)Q†R‡R•V–VóYE]F]þ_ÿ_`|aÏdÐd'h(h=k>kNnOnZnohôth§@ÙCJOJQJaJhôtCJOJQJaJh§@ÙhôtCJOJQJaJhÊLCJOJQJaJh§@Ùh§@ÙCJOJQJaJhÊLhÊLCJOJQJaJhA$ÇhA$ÇCJOJQJaJh§@ÙCJOJQJaJh#úCJOJQJaJh#úh#úCJOJQJaJh#úh§@ÙCJOJQJaJ(`pp¤q¥q¦q§q¿qòrórs™tšthuiutuuuv‘vâv8wˆwØwõõõõõõõõõõõõõëáÌÌÌÌÌÌ$ &F„ª„Vþ¤:^„ª`„Vþa$gdÊL $¤<a$gd§@Ù $¤a$gdÊL $¤a$gd§@Ù‘vâv8wˆwØwAxBxCxDxExFxGxHxIxJxKxLxMxNxPxSxVxXxqxrxyx{x�xŽx�x–x—x˜xšxÎxÏxññññâÓËÇËÇËÇËǵ¦µ—µ—µ—µ�‰w—w—w`,jh˜yðhfPä5�CJOJQJU^JaJ#h˜yðh˜g5�CJOJQJ^JaJhÕ&Ïh^~ hëQÉ5�CJh§@Ù5�CJOJQJ^JaJhÊL5�CJOJQJ^JaJ#h˜yðh^~ 5�CJOJQJ^JaJh~[1jh~[1UhÊLhÒnàCJOJQJaJhÊLh§@ÙCJOJQJaJh§@Ùh§@ÙCJOJQJaJ#ØwBxDxExGxHxJxKxMxNxŽx�xêxëxìxíxêàÞàÞàÞàÞÎÞºÞÞê$ [Some characters in this reference could not be displayed correctly — please refer to the published PDF for the full reference.]
How to cite this paper
@article{1709042,
author = {Dinah N. Wekesa, Dr. Rispah Wepukhulu Namasaka, Dr. Margaret Matisi},
title = {Examination of Symbolic Objects Used in Tachoni Last Rituals for Transition of the Dead},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {12},
pages = {568-574},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1709042.pdf},
abstract = {Symbolic objects in death rituals serve as crucial mediators between physical and spiritual realms, embodying complex cultural meanings that facilitate the deceased's transition to ancestral status. This study examined the symbolic objects utilized in Tachoni last rituals for the transition of the dead to the spirit world, exploring their types, meanings, preparation protocols, and contemporary adaptations. A qualitative research design was employed with 200 purposively selected participants from Ndivisi location, Bungoma County, Kenya. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and questionnaires. Thematic analysis revealed six major categories of symbolic objects: traditional herbs and plants for purification and protection; oil lamps and lighting elements serving as spiritual guides; ceremonial cloths and textiles marking identity and status; sacred stones and natural materials connecting to ancestral power; ritual tools and instruments facilitating spiritual communication; and modern adaptations including photographs and religious texts. Each object category demonstrated specific preparation protocols, gender-based handling restrictions, and deep symbolic significance linked to Tachoni cosmology. Variations in object usage were primarily influenced by the deceased's age, social status, cause of death, and regional differences. Despite modernization pressures, traditional objects maintain high spiritual efficacy, though adaptations include the incorporation of modern materials and Christian or Islamic elements. The study reveals how symbolic objects function as dynamic cultural technologies that negotiate between tradition and modernity while maintaining core spiritual functions.},
keywords = {Tachoni community, symbolic objects, death rituals, material culture, spiritual transition, cultural adaptation},
month = {June},
}