Death is a part of life and every culture has its own rituals surrounding it. Some cultures dictate a quick ceremony and funeral rites while others allow for years. In Ghana, most funeral rites follow the major faiths of the country – either Christian or Islam. In the southern part of the country, most people are buried and cremation is almost unheard of. However, some people get what are called “fantasy coffins.”
History and Explanation of Fantasy Coffins
Fantasy coffins are functional works of art. They are coffins that are carved to represent something of significance to the deceased. These coffins can take the shape of anything, from snakes to airplanes, from crabs to chief stools.
Historically, fantasy coffins have their roots in Ga traditional culture. According to traditional Ga beliefs, life continues in the next world after death. This is the base upon which ancestor worship is built. In the past, priests, chiefs or important people were buried in their palanquins, which have evolved into the fantasy coffins. While the practice has spread beyond certain statuses, some representations are still reserved for specific people.
Modern History and Craftsmen of Fantasy Coffins
Seth Kane Kwei founded the carpentry shop that really kicked off the modern trend and tradition of fantasy coffins in the 1950s. The legend goes that a traditional leader had ordered a palanquin in the shape of a cocoa pod, but he died shortly after it was finished. After his death, it was converted into a coffin so he could be buried in it.
Not long later, Kwei’s grandmother died. She had always wanted to travel, but never had the opportunity. So, Kwei made her a coffin in the shape of an airplane. Not long later, a fisherman ordered a boat-shaped coffin for his father, and the orders kept coming.
There are a handful of carpentry shops near Accra that all specialize in the fantasy coffins, however almost all of them apprenticed under Kwei. He died in 1992, and his son has taken over the family business and carries on the legacy.
Check out this great National Geographic video to learn a bit more: