In Ghana, funerals are more than just a farewell—they are grand celebrations of life, deeply rooted in tradition and cultural expression. Among the most distinctive aspects of Ghanaian funerals are fantasy coffins, custom-built to reflect the passions or professions of the deceased.

The tradition began in the 1950s when artisan Seth Kana Kwei transformed a chief’s unfinished palanquin into a cocoa pod-shaped coffin. Inspired by this, he later built an airplane coffin for his grandmother, fulfilling her unachieved dream of flying. Word spread, and soon, families across Ghana began commissioning coffins shaped like fish, lobsters, wads of currency, or even syringes for doctors.

At Kanekwei Carpentry Workshop in Accra, second-generation coffin maker Nii Oko continues this craft. His workshop showcases intricate designs, from a train-shaped coffin ordered for a railway worker to the Sankofa coffin, an Adinkra symbol reminding one to learn from the past.

These coffins, priced from ¢5,000 ($325), are significant investments, often too large for cemeteries, leading families to bury their loved ones on private land.

Beyond coffins, Ghana’s funeral industry thrives on elaborate ceremonies, music, and multi-day gatherings. In the Ashanti region, funerals are highly structured, blending tradition with modern influences, making the business of death both culturally significant and economically lucrative.

For many Ghanaians, a funeral is not just an end—it is the ultimate tribute, ensuring that the departed are honored in a way that reflects their lives and legacies.

---