In Ghana, death is not just an end, but a transition celebrated with vibrant artistry. This is exemplified by the tradition of fantasy coffins, known locally as okadi adekai in the Ga dialect, or abebuo, which translates to “proverb.” These are functional coffins crafted by specialized carpenters in the Greater Accra Region, transforming the final resting place into a work of art that reflects the deceased's life, profession, vices, or dreams.
Fantasy coffins on display in Ghana. Image source: Wikipedia
The Origins of Fantasy Coffins
The tradition of fantasy coffins has its roots in the religious beliefs of the Ga people, who believe that life continues in the next world much like it did on earth. The Ga people believe the deceased will continue their job in the afterlife and the coffin acts as a reminder. These coffins are not just status symbols; they are believed to honor ancestors and curry favor, with families often spending up to a year’s salary on the funeral ceremony.
According to some sources, Ataa Oko from La may have started making custom coffins and figurative palanquins around 1945. The idea of making and using custom coffins was inspired by the figurative palanquins in which the Ga chiefs were carried, and in which they were sometimes buried.
The invention of figurative coffins was at one point attributed to Seth Kane Kwei, though the anthropologists Roberta Bonetti and Regula Tschumi question this myth.
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The Craftsmanship
Each coffin is a testament to the skill and creativity of Ghanaian carpenters. Every object is carved by hand, mostly from the local wawa tree; those for richer clients are made from more durable mahogany. It takes around five years to learn the trade.
Master carpenters employ one or more apprentices who carry out a large part of the work. This allows the artist to make several coffins simultaneously. The woodworking is done using simple, non-electric tools. Painting can take up to two days to complete. Some models are painted by the head of the workshop, others by local sign writers, some of whom are well known in the Western art market for making hand-painted movie posters.
The cost varies between £300 for locals to up to £10,000 for international clients, depending on the level of detail and time taken for the commission. Each coffin takes two to six weeks to produce, depending on the complexity of the construction and the carpenter's level of experience. For urgent orders, several carpenters will work on a single piece.
“It’s 40% art, 60% burial,” says Ernest Anang Kwei, a coffin maker who belongs to a unique group of men who’ve elevated death into an art form.
Eric Adjetey-Anang and a Paradise bottle coffin. Image source: National Geographic
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Symbolism and Meaning
Fantasy coffins are not just about aesthetics; they are deeply symbolic. Some professions are more apparent than others. A gun for a solider, a trumpet for a musician and an eagle for a chief - these make sense. But an ant? “Some are based on local Ga proverbs. The meaning will be unclear to outsiders,” explains Ernest.
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.
It’s much more than a status symbol. The right to a particular coffin is never arbitrary; it reflects identity, occupation and status.
Here's a table summarizing some common symbols and their meanings:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fish | Fishmonger or someone connected to the sea |
| Lion | Chief or person of power |
| Rooster | Royal families in Labadi |
| Gun | Soldier |
| Trumpet | Musician |
| Eagle | Chief |
The World’s Strangest Coffins are from GHANA 🇬🇭
The International Appeal
Today, the coffins are sought-after by art collectors worldwide. US President Jimmy Carter reportedly bought two from fellow artist Paa Joe when he visited Ghana. “The furthest so far was a collector in Russia,” smiles Ernest, proudly.
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Some coffins never hold bodies at all, destined instead for museums abroad. 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.
They were shown for the first time to a wider Western public in the exhibition Les Magiciens de la terre at the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris in 1989. The seven coffins shown in Paris were made by Kane Kwei (1922-1992) and his former assistant Paa Joe (b.
The fantasy coffin of the late Robert Nii Anang Obodai. Image source: Associated Press
The Experience of Visiting a Workshop
Visiting a fantasy coffin workshop is a unique experience. The workshop of one of the most well-known fantasy coffin carvers in the world is squeezed between a barbershop and a clothing store, in the shadow of a three-story Melcom supermarket. In front of the workshop, children skitter through the dirt and women sell fried yam, cell phone credit, and balls of fermented corn mash called kenkey.
One might come face to face with it. A whale-sized red fish with bulging eyes and a hollowed-out belly hungrily waiting for a body. We crunch across the dirt floor littered with golden curls of wood shavings, as if someone had hacked away at Goldilocks’ mane.
The Future of Fantasy Coffins
The tradition of fantasy coffins continues to evolve, with artists like Eric Adjetey Anang pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. "I’m trying to work on things that have something to say about the community," he tells me.
While many of the household goods, furniture, and electronics sold in Ghanaian shops are imported from elsewhere, the fantasy coffins remain the unique domain of skilled artists.
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