Funeral Descends into Chaos After Father Demands Reggae Send-Off for His Son – Clashes with Church
A sombre funeral ceremony in Luanda, Vihiga County, took an unexpected turn over the weekend after a dispute erupted between the bereaved family and church officials over the type of music to be played in honour of the deceased.
What began as a solemn farewell quickly shifted into a tense standoff when the father of the deceased interrupted his own tribute to demand that the DJ play reggae music — a genre he said his late son deeply loved. According to witnesses, the request was immediately rejected by the Disc Jockey, who insisted he was forbidden from playing reggae on church-owned sound equipment.
Church officials present at the burial reportedly reinforced the DJ’s refusal, arguing that reggae was inappropriate for a Christian funeral service. Their stance infuriated the grieving father, who threatened to halt the burial entirely if the request was not honoured.
Residents who attended the ceremony said the deceased had been an avid lover of reggae music, and many in the village considered it fitting that he be laid to rest with the soundtracks he cherished.
“He always identified with reggae. It was part of who he was,” one villager told reporters. “To the father, this was the last meaningful way to honour him.”
The standoff continued for several minutes before tensions eased and the DJ reluctantly agreed to play Gospel of Jah by Ghanaian reggae gospel artist Shasha Marley.
What followed stunned the gathering. As the song began, the father broke into dance, and the crowd — moved by the moment — rose to join him. The emotional display, however, was short-lived. Church officials swiftly intervened once more and ordered the music to be stopped, reigniting friction within the funeral crowd.
Videos and accounts of the incident have since circulated widely on social media, sparking debate on cultural expression, religious authority and respect for family wishes during burial ceremonies.
One X (formerly Twitter) user, @BensonOnyango, criticised the church’s stance, writing: “I think churches misinterpret the Bible.”
Another user, @NyargiYawuwi, lamented the rigidity often seen at funerals, commenting: “Let him mourn. Kifo ni mbaya… Why do we drag out these final matanga? If someone dies, they should just be buried. This thing hurts.”
A third user, @WornicksGisemba, offered a more humorous take, referencing biblical music traditions: “David was given a talent by God. His talent was music. David was a secular musician. David played reggae. Nobody can stop reggae…”
The church has not issued any official statement regarding the matter. However, community members say the incident has exposed growing tensions between traditional mourning practices and the evolving personal preferences of modern families.
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Funeral Descends into Chaos After Father Demands Reggae Send-Off for His Son – Clashes with Church