El Velorio (the Wake) 1893 by Francisco Oller
Baquiné is a long forgotten tradition from Puerto Rico and possibly the wider Caribbean area. It was observed in the African Diasporic populations.
Baquiné is the tradition of holding a celebration instead of a funeral for a child who died under the age of 7, as the people thought because of their youth, they were pure and could immediately ascend to heaven and in some traditions, become and angel.
The event was celebrated with family, food, drumming and prayers. The prayers were to gain his and the saints intercession.
From all I could find on this, I can't say which tribe from Africa this type of celebration has evolved from. Regardless, I think it's beautiful and a part of our history we shouldn't forget.
