The Afro-Surinamese laying out rituals are performed by the intercessors/servants of the twenty or so Afro-Surinamese last offices associations in the Netherlands. The rituals consist of providing the last care and washing of the deceased and creating a comforting atmosphere with singing, dancing, and libations. There are public rituals and rituals that are only shared with initiates, the layers-out or servants.
From the moment last offices association receives notification of a death, a home visit is made by a minimum of three servants. If the death did not take place at home, the servants go to that location. Before starting the final care, the servants meet the family, introduce themselves and sing and pray with the family. There is singing in both Dutch and Sranan Tongo. In some cases the deceased is washed at home, this is called 'preliminary work'. There are female servants who wash women and male servants who wash men. The sisters always wear a special white headscarf, angisa, and the men are dressed in white with a medal pinned to their clothes.
In consultation with the funeral director is determined on which day the formal washing takes place. The Afro-Surinamese formal washing differs from the Dutch one, as it is accompanied by farewell rituals and therefore takes longer.
The evening before the funeral, there is a mourning meeting at the home of the next of kin, also with singing, prayer, and rituals, such as making an altar for the deceased and the spirits present. During the farewell service the next day, the servants are also present and usually walk along the route to the grave. There is dancing and singing, accompanied by an external marching band. After the funeral, there are mourning meetings on the eighth day, the fortieth day and one year after the death.