Amidst concerns of extravagant burials, particularly in the South Eastern part of the country, many are still engaged in the act, claiming that departed loved ones, especially those advanced in age, should be given befitting burial as a way of honouring, as well as celebrating their life.
One set of people who have benefited immensely from the so-called befitting burial are those into casket- making. Daily Trust camera captured one of them in Amawbia, a community near Awka, the Anambra State capital, where our correspondent, Emma Elekwa, spoke with Friday Nwoye, one of the workers in the firm. Excerpts:
When did you start this business?
My name is Friday Nwoye, but I am popularly known as Obele. I started this job eight years ago in Onitsha with one company called Kingdom Heritage. After a while, I moved to Port Harcourt were I continued with the job. It was there that my present master heard about me and requested that I should come over to help him.
Initially, I was into panel beating where I specialised in painting of both cars and houses. My friend later introduced me to casket-making business, convincing me that I could do the job. I initially resisted the offer but when I eventually agreed after he insisted, I discovered that I benefited more from the job than panel beating.
Why were you reluctant going into the business?
I was really afraid at first because in those days, as a little child, we used to be scared when we saw a coffin. The mentality then was that it was only the dead that were associated with it. So, if anyone identified with anything coffin, he was seen as a spirit, and you know how spirits are viewed. But when I later became familiar with the job, the fear fizzled away automatically. In fact, I can even sleep inside a casket now if you ask me to. I can also walk into a mortuary comfortably and clean the corpses there.
Besides, the financial benefits I derive from the job is unexpected and unprecedented. Actually, that is one major motivation that made me to remain in the business.
One can see the ease with which you do the work. How did you learn it and how many caskets can you make in a day?
Nobody thought me. I used my panel beating experience. It was really an added advantage. That is why people like us do the work rather than those who have no such background.
It is almost impossible to finish one casket in a day if you really want to do a thorough job. It takes two or three days. However, it is much faster during dry season or when it is sunny because it helps the work to dry easily.
How is the patronage?
Patronage? (laughs). I doubt if you talk of patronage here. You know, casket making is one business you don’t have or call for customers. It is only those in need of it that visit our showroom. There are some days in a week we don’t sell even one, whereas sometimes we can sell three to five caskets.
Some people have accused us of praying for people to die so as to sell our products. But the truth remains that you don’t even need to pray for people to die. As long as there are births, deaths are inevitable. Just take a visit to the mortuary and you may see not less than 11 to 15 corpses being wheeled in in a day.
If at all we pray for customers, our prayer is for the old people. As an ambulance driver too, I am much happier conveying the corpse of an aged person; say 90 to 100 years. At least, I would be more appreciated by the bereaved family in the spirit of celebration than when I am carrying that of a young person.
How many persons have you been able to train since you started?
I can’t remember training anybody but I have been able to introduce two persons to the job who are presently doing well. Some who I approached declined due to its scary nature.
What are the challenges you encounter on this job?
People are always scared of us. You as a person could not have entered here today if not for the purpose of this interview. If I am coming to work for example, I try to avoid mentioning where I would alight because if I do, those sitting beside me would quickly adjust. Some of my friends, especially when I started newly, hardly shook hands with me. That is probably the only challenge. What could have been another challenge is the stress in the job which is not peculiar with the business.
Can you remember your experience in the first job you did?
I was indeed excited to see my first product. That particular work took me so much time because I took my time to do it well. I was very happy with the work and I think the person that eventually purchased it would also be.
Any advice for the youths idling away?
Any young person is not supposed to fold his hands and be praying for a miracle to happen. Gone are the days when manna fell from heaven. I advise fellow youths to be meaningfully engaged, no matter how small. Even as a graduate, you can go into casket-making business. It is just ordinary plywood. Noting is scary about it.
