ACCRA, Ghana. In Ghana, coffins are more than just burial boxes. From giant pink fish and colorful peacocks to airplanes painted with the national flag, these creations—known locally as Abebuo, meaning “proverb”are crafted to reflect the essence of the deceased’s life and identity.
For farmers, a coffin may take the shape of crops or tools they used. Fishmongers are remembered through fish-shaped coffins, while chiefs are laid to rest in lion designs, a symbol of power. In Accra’s Labadi suburb, royal families use rooster coffins, an emblem tied to their lineage. Each choice is deliberate, reflecting a person’s status, occupation, and heritage.
The practice, which began with the Ga people of Accra, has now spread across Ghana. Coffins take about two weeks to complete and cost at least $700, depending on materials and design complexity. Funerals themselves are vibrant occasions, filled with music, dancing, and displays of cultural heritage.
Coffin maker Nicolas Ablorh Annan, whose family has been in the craft for generations, said demand is not limited to Ghanaian families. Many coffins are now ordered abroad, destined for museums and exhibitions. “For us, it’s a business,” Annan explained, noting that six coffins are currently being prepared for shipment overseas.
Carpenter Eric Kpakpo Adotey described how fantasy coffins change the atmosphere of funerals. “People forget for a moment what’s inside; they admire the coffin and the atmosphere shifts,” he said.
For mourners, these coffins are more than resting places. They are tributes carved in wood, stories, symbols, and final proverbs left behind for the living.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
