Actress Angela Okorie burned the outfit she wore to late actor Alex Ekubo’s burial because of spiritual advice from her godmother.
What she said
After Alex was laid to rest on June 18, 2026 in Arochukwu, Abia State, Angela posted on Instagram with a photo of the dress.
She explained: _“My godmother said it is not good to have cloth you wore to a burial around you. You burn them. So family and friends, take note. I felt I should share this information. May the Lord keep us and bless us with long life”_.
She also shared a video of the outfit before destroying it, saying she only recently learned about the advice and wanted others to know.
The belief behind it
In some Nigerian/African traditional beliefs, clothes worn to burial ceremonies are thought to carry “bad energy,” “death aura,” or spiritual attachment to the deceased. Burning them is meant as:
1. *Spiritual cleansing* – to cut off any link to death/negativity
2. *Protection* – to prevent bad luck, sickness, or “spiritual attack” from following the wearer
Angela’s godmother advised her not to keep the dress around her, so she followed it and prayed for long life for herself and loved ones.
Reactions
The post sparked mixed reactions. Some people agreed and said they do the same thing. Others called it “clout chasing” and asked why she didn’t burn clothes from previous burials. Some also pointed out she only burned the outfit but kept the bag, shoes, wig and jewelry.
Alex Ekubo died May 11, 2026 after battling metastatic kidney cancer. His burial on June 18 drew many Nollywood stars.
It’s basically a personal/spiritual practice, not a Nollywood-wide rule. Different people have different beliefs about post-burial cleansing.
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