USA Africa Dialogue Series - Coping with Grief

What should be done when grief comes knocking on the door with the loss of  loved ones?

Meditation, prayer, poetry, drown oneself in tears, drink wine, write a book, philosophize, sing songs of sadness , celebrate the life of the deceased, lift weights? What about the deceased?

 Here is an abridged version of an ancient  invocation for the deceased, albeit for a King:

Oho! oho!

Raise yourself up King Teti!

Take back your head

Gather your bones;

Collect your limbs,

Shake the earth from your flesh,

Receive your food which does not stale,

Your drink which does not sour............

The Great appear that they may serve you,

The guardian gods stand guard;

Barley is threshed

And emmer reaped for you,

Served at your monthly festivals,

Served at your mid - month feast days.

All this as ordered by your father Geb.

Rise up, King Teti! You have not died!

Pyramid Text 373 (Abridged)

Circa 2322 BC

Professor Gloria Emeagwali
Prof. of History/African Studies, CCSU