F.A.C.F.O – The Federation of African / Caribbean Funeral Operatives. Will be holding its launch event on Imani-day (Sat) November 6th. The objective of FACFO is to.
“Promote services of African and Caribbean Funeral Operatives nationwide from the moment of diagnosis and through the process of bereavement. Establish and maintain standards of best practice for African and Caribbean persons at end-of-life and beyond; through continuous research, edutainment, conferences, and training opportunities of members and affiliate organisations. Inform FACFO members of changes within the industry pertaining to UK policy, legislation, and law regarding dying, death and bereavement. We will form national and international alliances and partnerships to facilitate repatriation to various parts of the world.” (1)
FACFO aims to do nothing less than to bring all the community agencies involved in the end-of-life process into a coherent whole. It’s not just an idea whose time has come but one that is well overdue. It arguably harks back to a time when, like every aspect of Afrikan life cycle was a participatory process that the whole community overstood and engaged in. (2)
The Federation is the vision of Sis. Laura D Pusey, a Death Practitioner (incl: Non Medical End-of-Life Guidance), Funeral Celebrant & Ceremony / Transformative Grief & Bereavement Coach among other roles.
Through her service D.I.P.ism, End-of-Life Care & Bereavement Guidance, she works with families and related agencies to cater “to the social, spiritual, emotional and practical needs of people who are approaching the end of their lives, their family members and those who grieve the loss of their loved ones.” (3)
Yet for all this work, Sis. Laura asserts:
“Death is taboo and grief is misunderstood… The expression of our emotions is vital, but seldom explored” (4)
This could manifest itself in various ways. For example, as popular sentiment in some songs: “So let the dead, bury the dead/But let the living man, give thanks and praise instead/nah go a dem funeral and nah go a dem burial” (5) Another factor may be the lack of preparedness for the funeral. To be sure many deaths are sudden, and dying is costly. In fact, the current “cost of dying” is an estimated £9,263, which includes the average funeral cost of £5,044 (representing a 128% increase since 2004). (6)
This is compounded by the fact that in many cases grief-stricken families become entangled in a web of European agencies and services that can be exploitative, devoid of cultural sensitivity and/or blatantly racist. This perhaps is most painfully typified in funeral sector, worth over one £billion a year. (7)
There is also that matter of the extent to which a person’s wishes (assuming they have been shared at all) are respected in the event of their passing. This is particularly acute in the activist community, where member’s value-system/life-style may be at odds with that of their families (sometimes severely so), yet in administering these end-of-life duties some families do so in manner reflecting their world view rather than that of the deceased.
So it is hoped that FACFO can be a point of reference for all Afrikan families in the event of a bereavement, with the objective that not only our loved ones’ wishes and dignity retained, the basis for community and even economic cohesion can be established.
(1) FACFO (2021) Our Objectives. https://facfo.org/
(2) Margo Jefferson and Elliott P. Skinner (1990) Roots of Time: A Portrait of African Life and Culture. Africa World Press. p. 78-80
(3) D.I.P.ism (2021) About D.I.P.ism. https://dipism.com/index.php/about-d-i-p-ism-2/
(4) Laura D Pusey (2021) About Laura. https://dipism.com/index.php/about-d-i-p-ism/
(5) Prince Alla (1978) Funeral. Stars; Peter Tosh (1976) Burial. Intel Diplo
(6) SunLife (2021) Cost of Dying Report. https://www.sunlife.co.uk/costofdying2021/
(7) ITV News (29/09/12) ITV investigation uncovers disrespect, exploitation and racism in funeral business. https://www.itv.com/news/2012-09-26/itv-investigation-uncovers-disrespect-exploitation-and-racism-in-funeral-business
we ask the question:
The FACFO launch: Are we ready to DIE?
1) What kinds of service can sign up to FACFO?
2) Why is death “taboo” and grief “misunderstood”?
3) Does this taboo represent the moving away from our traditions?
4) Should we make our end-of-life wishes known or does this seem too morbid?
5) Should we be seeking out Afrikan bereavement services or just go for the cheapest, whatever it is?
Our special Guest:
Sis. Laura D Pusey: is the founder of D.I.P.ism – Death in Practice and F.A.C.F.O – The Federation of African / Caribbean Funeral Operatives. She is a Death Practitioner incl: Non Medical End-of-Life Guidance / Funeral Celebrant & Ceremony / Transformative Grief & Bereavement Coach / Clinical Hypnotherapist / Public Speaker on Cultural Grief Awareness / Delivering sessions on grief and mortality. Sis. Laura also provides transformational Grief therapy working on the social, emotional, spiritual and practical levels following a death transition. She works with organisation leaders to create cultural awareness around how dying and grief is recognised, in order to ensure cultural balance and harmony for their employees and service users and also speaks publicly on the need for Social, Class and Cultural awareness around dying, death and grief. Sis. Laura is the author of the workbook and planner My Life’s Tapestry: from the journey of my life to my end of life wishes. https://dipism.com