When people think of a coffin, they usually imagine a simple wooden box. However, in Ghana, some coffins look like giant fish, colourful shoes, cameras, cars…
At first glance, a giant fish, a bright red chilli or a polished aeroplane may not look like a coffin. Yet in parts of Ghana, these remarkable objects are created to carry people on their final journey. Often called fantasy coffins, they combine skilled craftsmanship, personal storytelling and beliefs about death.
The tradition is mainly associated with the Ga people, who live in and around Accra, Ghana’s capital. It developed in coastal communities such as Teshie during the twentieth century. The coffins were influenced by figurative palanquins: decorated seats shaped like animals or objects, which were used to carry important chiefs during ceremonies. These palanquins showed a leader’s status and identity, but they were usually hidden from most people when they were not being used.
There are different stories about exactly when the first fantasy coffin was made. According to a widely repeated account, the modern tradition began in 1951, when the carpenters Kane Kwei and his brother Ajetey made an aeroplane-shaped coffin for their grandmother. She had reportedly dreamed of travelling by plane but never had the opportunity. The unusual coffin attracted attention in the local community, and families began requesting other imaginative designs. Kane Kwei later trained younger craftspeople, including Paa Joe, who became internationally recognised for his work.
Choosing the shape is an important part of the process. It is rarely selected simply because it looks impressive. Instead, the design may represent the dead person’s occupation, achievements, personality, beliefs or ambitions. A fisherman might be buried in a fish or boat, while a farmer could have a cocoa pod, onion or chicken. A driver may be placed inside a car, and a business owner might choose an object connected to their work. Some coffins also show wealth or social position, such as an expensive Mercedes-Benz. Others take the form of religious symbols, animals or everyday products.
The design can therefore act as a final biography. Without using words, it tells mourners something about the person’s life. However, the meaning may not always be obvious to an outsider. An animal, for example, could represent a family symbol or a quality such as strength and loyalty. The coffin is deeply personal, and the family usually discusses the idea with a specialist carpenter before work begins.
Making one requires considerable skill. The carpenter first draws the design and plans how the object will open and how a body will fit inside it. Pieces of wood are then cut, joined and carved into the chosen form. Finally, the coffin is painted in bright colours and decorated with realistic details. Although the finished object may appear humorous or playful, it has a serious ceremonial purpose.
Funerals are significant social occasions in many Ga communities. They allow relatives and friends to express grief, but also to celebrate the life of the person who has died. Music, dancing, speeches and large gatherings may form part of the event. Ga traditions also place great importance on ancestors. Death may be understood not simply as an ending, but as a change in the person’s relationship with the living community. A successful funeral shows respect and helps the family honour the dead.
Fantasy coffins are striking, but they are not used by every Ghanaian family. Standard rectangular coffins are more affordable and remain far more common. Some religious leaders have also considered the elaborate designs too extravagant. This is an important reminder that Ghana is culturally diverse and that one unusual tradition should not be presented as something practised by everyone in the country.
Over time, these coffins have attracted the attention of museums, galleries and collectors around the world. Artists such as Paa Joe have created pieces for international exhibitions as well as for local funerals. When displayed in a museum, a fantasy coffin may be admired as a sculpture. In Ghana, however, its meaning is often more personal: it is made for a particular person, family and farewell.
Ghana’s fantasy coffins show how art can help people respond to death. They transform an object usually connected with sadness into a colourful record of a life. Whether shaped like a camera, an eagle or a bottle, each coffin carries a story. It reminds the community not only that someone has died, but also that they lived.
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