In many parts of Ghana, funeral ceremonies last for several days and display an important aspect of the country's culture. These elaborate celebrations are part of the mourning process, but they also function as a platform for social exchange. On weekends, funeral attire often dominates the public space. Through its funeral attire and its signs and symbols, Ghanaian society takes on a visible form.
A Ghanaian funeral procession showcases the community's vibrant traditions.
The Significance of Funeral Attire
Funeral clothing doesn’t just end at the colour. There are certain prints and fabrics specifically designed for funerals. In the Akan language, Twi it’s called Eyie ntomaa which directly translates into funeral cloth. Funeral cloths in Ghana are mostly made of cotton but there are also polyester, silk and velvet options. The clothing styles range from traditional to contemporary and are influenced by changing fashion trends.
For many tribes particularly in the middle and southern part of Ghana, the family of the deceased selects a particular pattern of cloth for the funeral. The selection of the cloth is not only made based on the beauty of the fabric but also the message it carries. Many funeral cloths in Ghana have names and meanings that can sometimes be seen at the hem of the fabric. The styles these funeral cloths are sewed in are completely left to the discretion of the individual. For women, the most popular style for funerals is a kaba and slit or a dress.
Colors and Their Meanings
Ghana is known widely for its traditional textiles, which hold symbolic significance at funerals. It is believed that a funeral helps a person’s spirit cross over safely from the realm of the living to the realm of the ancestors; the mourners’ attire is part of how the living communicate their attention and affection for the dead.
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The most popular colours for funeral cloths are black, black and red as well as black and white.
- Red clothing indicates that a mourner was part of the family of the person who died.
- Black indicates sadness. The Black cloth is worn by distant relatives and well-wishers who come to mourn with the family. This shows that they are grieving and feel the pain of the family as if it were their own.
- White is worn to celebrate a life well lived. The White cloth is worn when the deceased was seventy years and above to celebrate having lived a full life. Rather than a cause for sadness, it is seen as a joyous occasion. White is most commonly worn by all mourners when a person 70 years of age or older dies, because the length of their life is considered a victory.
According to Dr. Dan Bright, a sociologist at the University of Ghana, funerals are special occasions in Ghana because they celebrate the life of the deceased. Culturally, the black and red attire for funeral ceremonies in Ghana signifies a grieving period. However, when a person grows to a ripe old age of seventy years and above, the belief is that the person has lived long and has been blessed, so why not rejoice instead of grieve?
Mourners dressed in traditional black and red attire.
The Funeral Ceremony: A Celebration of Life
Rather than expressing sorrow, Ghanaian funerals are a time to celebrate the life of the deceased. A Ghanaian funeral is usually held on the weekend, with Saturday being the most common day, and it can be an all-night celebration. The funeral is a large social gathering where the phrase “the more the merrier” perfectly fits, as there could be as many as hundreds of funeral attendees, and everyone usually wears red or black clothing to symbolize their grief. Sometimes called “celebrations of life” or “funeral parties,” they usually include official mourning with tears profusely shed, prayers, sometimes a church service, and plenty of music, food, drink and dancing.
A Ghanaian funeral is essentially a party celebrating the deceased’s life through music and dancing. The music is typically a Ghanaian mix of jazz, brass bands, and African rhythms; and it’s common for photographs to be taken of funeral attendees dancing and celebrating the deceased’s life. However, before the celebration begins, there’s usually a funeral ceremony with religious blessings and tribute speeches. Funerals are expensive. Expect moments of both grief and joy, tears may give way to dancing, hymns to highlife music.
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Billboards line the streets, letting the whole community know that someone’s life will be honored by a lavish event for all well-wishers of the family. A Ghanian funeral may cost upwards of $15,000 to $20,000 - as much as a wedding.
A typical Ghanaian funeral celebration with music and dancing.
Fantasy Coffins
Another defining aspect of Ghanian funerals is the creative coffins that often rival the excessive burial accoutrements popular in North America, often at great cost to the family. Ghana is known for their extravagant coffins in the shape of unique objects, such as a lion, shoe, or chili pepper.
For example, a footballer who dreamed of moving to the United States was buried in football boot-shaped coffin, painted in the stars and stripes of the US flag, in 2022. Or a midwife buried inside a casket in the form of a laboring woman, in 2011.
Paa Joe is one of Ghana’s most famous coffin artists with five decades of experience in the funeral profession. He first became interested in designing coffins as a teenager and his first coffin was carved as the shape of a building for a real estate developer. Since then, he’s made a variety of fantasy coffins shaped like animals, cars, boats, shoes, cameras, phones, and many other significant objects.
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Interestingly, it’s not the deceased but their family who decides on the design, Tschumi told CNN in a video call. “The family come to the (coffin maker)” she said. Coffins typically take five to 10 days to create, and until recently carpenters worked entirely by hand, she explained.
Example of a fantasy coffin shaped like a fish.
The Role of Ancestors and Spirituality
Modern Ghana is approximately 72% Christian, 17.6% Muslim, and 5.2% adherents of traditional African religions (source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2021) yet traditional spirituality shapes almost every funeral, regardless of faith. The Ghanaian is very superstitious and has a strong belief in ghosts and ancestors.
It is believed the dead cannot rest in peace until a befitting funeral and burial ceremony are held for them. Ancestors are ever-present guardians, protectors, and members of the household.
Pallbearers
Around 2012, one coffin bearer decided to start moving left, right, left, right. People stopped crying, then started to cheer us, started to throw money at it,” he recalled. He began drilling his pallbearers in choreography, purchasing matching costumes and traveling the country for funerals. Today, routines and outfits are often bespoke, and coffin dancers highly sought after. The company has also spurred on imitators, not all of whom are as skilled or well trained. As a professional, if a coffin goes down it’s the end of your career,” he said.
Dancing Funeral Coffin Meme - Original Ful Version 1080p
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