The family of celebrated gospel singer Betty Bayo, who died on 10 November after what relatives described as a quiet battle with leukaemia, has confirmed that she will be buried on land she owned — a decision that has stirred public debate over African customary norms surrounding a woman’s final resting place.

Bayo, best known for her song “11th Hour,” will be laid to rest on Thursday, 20 November, at Mugumo Estate along Kiambu Road, according to her family. The move departs from a long-held tradition in many Kenyan communities that a married woman should be buried on her husband’s ancestral land.

Her family says they are honouring her wishes — and the law.

A Departure from Custom

Bayo married her fiancé, Hiram Gitau, widely known as Tash, in 2021 after a traditional ceremony. Before that, she had been separated from her former partner, Pastor Victor Kanyari.

In many patrilineal societies, the payment of bride price is understood to transfer a woman into her husband’s lineage. Burial on his family land is seen as the final step in joining the ancestral line. It also reflects how land and inheritance have historically been passed through male relatives.

But the Bayo family says circumstances today are more complex — and the law more accommodating.

“The family has decided to bury Bayo on Thursday, November 20, next week,” family spokesperson Elder David Kigomo said. “She will be buried at Mugumo Estate along Kiambu Road, where she had bought a parcel of land.”

His statement rebuffed speculative reports suggesting Bayo might be laid to rest at Kanyari’s rural home or on land linked to her husband’s family in Murang’a County.

Custom Versus Contemporary Rights

Across Africa, shifting legal frameworks on women’s property rights have begun to challenge traditions that long defined marriage, inheritance and burial practices. Kenya’s laws allow women to own and inherit land independently. Courts have also clarified that an individual’s stated wishes can take precedence over customary norms, especially where family relationships are strained.

Betty Bayo’s case has reopened that conversation, with many Kenyans asking whether culture must give way when a woman owns property and expresses clear preferences.

Legal scholars say these tensions are becoming more common as societal attitudes change. Human-rights advocates note that women are increasingly insisting on autonomy in decisions traditionally controlled by male relatives.

A Life Remembered, Preparations Underway

Bayo died at Kenyatta National Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment. Her body has since been moved to the Kenyatta University Funeral Home as preparations continue. The funeral budget is estimated at KSh 5 million, according to organisers.

For fans, her burial marks the end of a career defined by heartfelt gospel music and a public life marked by resilience. For others, it has become a moment to examine the clash between tradition and individual rights — a discussion that continues to evolve across the continent.