PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado — Across the nation, Liberians celebrated Decoration Day on March 9 as they dedicated their time to cleaning and beautifying the burial sites of their relatives.
On this day, cemeteries transformed from quiet, sleepy zones to bustling activity centers, with local vendors as well as grave cleaners marketing their goods and services to relatives of the dead.
Because the burial vaults at the Duport Road Cemetery are built so close together, with barely any walking space in between, visitors are often spotted sitting or walking atop the vaults.
Visitors to the Duport Road Cemetery cause a major traffic jam.
The scene at the Zubah Town Cemetery in Paynesville.
Some relatives have said they feel compelled to visit their loved ones’ burial sites on Decoration Day because during the cleaning, the debris from other graves will be deposited on the burial vaults of the dead whose relatives are not present.
This skull was discovered laying in the open along with other bones. Because the Zubah Town Cemetery, along with many others in Liberia, is not well regulated, relatives can sometimes arrive to see their loved ones’ graves overturned to make room for a new burial.
Visitors at the Zubah Town Cemetery stand atop the burial vaults.
A burial vault at the Zuah Town Cemetery is decorated with wreaths, flowers, and a candle.
Ben Nattia, the grandson of the deceased Meah Carr, says, “He was the person I loved the best in my whole life. He died in my hands. It’s been almost five years now.â€
A young man is hired to paint on a burial vault.
Anthony Wogbeh paints a burial vault. He said he is being paid L$150 (US$1.60) for his work, something he does every Decoration Day.
Featured photo by Jefferson Krua
