The Ngas people, an ethnic group primarily found in Pankshin, Kanke, and parts of Kanam in Nigeria’s Plateau State, have a distinctive burial practice of interring their dead in a sitting position rather than lying down.
This centuries-old tradition reflects their spiritual beliefs and social values.
In this ritual, especially for elders, titled men, and nobles, the deceased are placed upright in graves often carved into rock or hillsides.
The body faces east, symbolizing the direction of the rising sun. Sometimes, adjustments are made to the limbs to accommodate this posture.
A large stone slab seals the grave, both marking the site and protecting the spirit of the deceased.
The sitting burial signifies the deceased’s continued authority and readiness to guide the living as an ancestor.
The Ngas believe that death is not the end but a transformation from the living world to Sara, the land of ancestors, where the dead maintain influence over family and community affairs.
The posture portrays them as rulers or elders who remain alert to watch over their descendants.
This practice intertwines with the Ngas belief in reincarnation, called tuput, where souls return to life through newborns in familial lines. The honored burial strengthens the soul’s legacy and ensures a respected return.
Although modernization and Christianity have led some Ngas communities to adopt conventional burial methods, the sitting burial tradition persists in rural and traditional areas, preserving an important cultural and spiritual identity.
The Ngas ritual underscores their unique worldview about death, leadership, and the ongoing connection between the living and the ancestral world.
It remains a powerful expression of respect, honor, and continuity within the Ngas society.
