Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more
Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
From a giant pink fish to a vibrant peacock or an aeroplane adorned with the national flag, Ghana's unique fantasy coffins, known as Abebuo – meaning "proverb" – are far more than simple vessels for the departed.
These vibrant creations offer a profound and colourful way to commemorate the deceased.
Each meticulously crafted piece aims to encapsulate the very essence of a person's life. A farmer, for instance, might be laid to rest in a coffin shaped like his tools or the crops he cultivated, rather than a generic box.
The design itself becomes a powerful metaphor, serving as a poignant final message.
While deeply rooted among the Ga people of Accra, these distinctive coffins are increasingly embraced across Ghana, providing a vivid and personal alternative to traditional wooden caskets.
RECOMMENDED
Autism, vaccines and paracetamol –how Trump and RFK created a policy from conspiracy
Undo
Officials reportedly believed Trump’s public post to Bondi was meant to be private
Undo
The 87￠ Viagra Trick Especially for Men on Social Security.Friday Plans |
Undo
The New Reading Glasses Taking Los Angeles by StormSherum |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
When a family faces loss, they convene to decide on a fitting honour, visiting a carpentry workshop where artisans help bring their bespoke tribute to life.
open image in gallery
Eric Kpakpo Adotey displays an aeroplane fantasy coffin in front of his shop in La, Accra(Misper Apawu)
The choice depends on each person. A fishmonger might be remembered in the form of the fish he sold, down to its exact type.
Lion-shaped coffins are reserved only for chiefs, as the animal is a symbol of power.
In Labadi, a suburb of Accra, royal families are tied to their emblem, the rooster, a design reserved only for their lineage.
The right to a particular coffin is never arbitrary; it reflects identity, occupation and status.
open image in gallery
A crab fantasy coffin crafted by Eric Kpakpo Adotey is displayed by his shop in La, Accra(Misper Apawu)
Each coffin takes about two weeks to complete. The cost, which starts at around $700, varies depending on the type of wood and the complexity of the design.
Funerals in Ghana are vibrant affairs. People see them as a final opportunity to honour the deceased, sparing no expense on ceremonies that feature music, dancing and vivid displays of cultural heritage.
But while families see fantasy coffins as tributes, collectors see them as art.
Nicolas Ablorh Annan, a coffin-maker from Accra, said that while the practice of burying loved ones in fantasy coffins started among the Ga people, it has expanded across Ghana.
open image in gallery
A fish fantasy coffin crafted by Eric Kpakpo Adotey(Misper Apawu)
For his family, it is merely a business. His great-grandfather started it, he said, and they continue to run it as a family enterprise, with no ties to the rituals.
Some coffins never hold bodies at all, and are destined instead for museums abroad.
Mr Annan said that international interest is growing, with many foreign clients ordering coffins primarily for exhibitions as art pieces. Currently, he is working on six fantasy coffins that will be shipped abroad the following week.
At funerals, the presence of a fantasy coffin transforms everything.
open image in gallery
Fantasy coffins are displayed at Eric Kpakpo Adotey’s carpentry shop in La(Misper Apawu)
Mourners burdened with grief find themselves captivated by the craftsmanship, the vivid colours, the detailed shapes, the boundless imagination.
“People forget for a moment what’s inside; they admire the coffin and the atmosphere shifts,” said Eric Kpakpo Adotey, a carpenter who specialises in fantasy coffins.
RECOMMENDED
A New Zealand woman is convicted of murdering her 2 children and leaving their bodies in suitcases
Undo
Wall Street Journal fires back at Trump over Epstein birthday letter lawsuit
Undo
Undo
This 250th Anniversary Hat Is Being Snapped up in Los AngelesGraddi |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
Laughter blends with tears, and the sorrow is softened by creativity.
For those left behind, each coffin is more than a final resting place. It is a story carved in wood, a proverb to be read.