{
  "id": 20160511,
  "title": "Go big, go into debt: Some Ivorian families pay dearly for a send-off to remember",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/go-big-go-into-debt-some-ivorian-families-pay-dearly-for-a-send-off",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T10:49:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/11/15/go-big-go-into-debt-some-ivorian-families-pay-dearly-for-a-send-off-to-remember/243394"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Valerie Bli Lou, a modest shopkeeper, is determined to honor her father’s memory with a lavish funeral, despite financial strain. At his wake in Yopougon, a working-class district of Ivory Coast’s economic hub, Abidjan, the 60-year-old danced through the night in a flowing tunic, recounting the challenges of planning and financing this opulent tribute. Bli Lou revealed she had already spent over 2.5 million CFA francs (US$4,275) – more than 15 times the average monthly salary – on her father’s funeral rites, including the purchase of three cows. Additional costs were still to come, such as transporting the coffin to a cemetery 500 kilometers away, building a tomb, and hosting hundreds of guests at the burial. Despite the financial burden, Bli Lou, a Christian, expressed pride in honoring her father’s wishes. When her father passed away in July, Bli Lou initially could not afford a traditional funeral. She resorted to the common practice of many families – preserving his body in a morgue, paying about 7,000 CFA francs per day – while seeking funds from family and friends. By the time of the wake at a center in Yopougon, known for hosting funeral events, she managed to gather the required funds with the help of her community. The wake, held on a Saturday night, attracted a large crowd of mourners who participated in a mix of tears and music, embraces and dancing. At another wake, a DJ announced the names of those who contributed financially, with the family imposing a mandatory contribution on every relative, incurring more debt. Some families even went into debt to meet the expenses. Anthropologist Leo Montaz explained that funeral rites are highly valued in Ivorian communities, often leading to competition and rivalries between families. Montaz noted that honoring one’s parents and ancestors is crucial for maintaining social status. In some Muslim communities, funerals must be organized more quickly, but the multiple ceremonies involved are still expensive. The funeral industry in Ivory Coast has thrived due to the importance of these rites. Stores in Yopougon sell coffins, funeral clothing, artificial flowers, headstones, jewelry, and scents for perfuming the dead. Gertrude Brou, a 15-year veteran of the industry, acknowledged the high demand and lucrative nature of the business. Her colleague, Georges, stated that his funeral parlour enabled him to build a house and send his children to study abroad.",
  "summary": "ABIDJAN, Nov 15 — Valerie Bli Lou is a shopkeeper from a modest family, but she is determined to give her late fat...",
  "key_points": [
    "Valerie Bli Lou spends over 2.5 million CFA francs on father's lavish funeral.",
    "She initially could not afford traditional burial, used morgue preservation.",
    "Funeral industry in Ivory Coast thrives due to importance of rites."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}