Apparently it's party time because someone died!

Ok that might sound a bit odd. But the way it works over here (this is what I have been told) is that if a person dies when they are quite old there is no point mourning, so you should all be celebrating the fact that they lived so long.

What this usually means is that the parents of the deceased get together and save up enough money to host a big party. However, this often means a delay between when someone dies and their burial such as at the one I visited on the weekend where the burial was 3 months after the person’s death (definitely no open coffins here).

Okay you don't actually see the burial but there is a huge party afterwards. Now I told you the wedding was big but the burial is much, much bigger. I can't be sure but there must have been a couple thousand people at the burial I went to in – a stadium! Again it's a kind of friends of friends of friends can go sort of event. And again its free food, alcohol/drinks and entertainment as well this time. So one can have quite an enjoyable day out at someone else's expense with the only concession being you should dress well (life's hard sometimes isn't it).

I had a good time, and got way too much attention again. The only bad thing was the availability of free stuff, including some rich people just handing out cash to the crowd resulted in some ugly fights. There were many beggars and street kids there who went around asking for money or doing things like fanning you (you need it sometimes, its hot here remember) for money.

Once someone had obviously grabbed some cash and tried to run. So half the people at the place, many of whom obviously would have had no idea what was going on, rushed to join in. This of course included some people who went and fetch a glass bottle or two to hurl before joining the fray. Luckily it didn't develop very far but it was not nice to see people joining in violence just for the sake of it.

I took a walk around the place which generated a little too much attention for my liking. But it was ok and something funny did happen. One man sitting down called me over and told me he wants to chat. He said he was a prince and that his father was very famous and everyone gives him a lot of respect (pointing to the group of guys he was with). Now he seemed very friendly and all and in fact wanted to meet up with me later in the week. Gave me his contact details and asked for mine. It was only when he suggested that one day I might be able to take some gold back to Australia with me and then bring mining equipment back I suspected he wasn’t telling the entire truth. I don't think I'll be contacting my 'princely' friend anytime soon but if he's that well connected, maybe he'll find me.

Anyways the burial was fun overall. I guess I just have to witness a Nigerian naming ceremony, a traditional engagement and I will have done the whole ceremony experience (well those that I've heard of so far anyway).