Ghana’s Amazing Custom Handcrafted Coffins to Celebrate Life

Chances are, you’ve never thought about being buried in anything other than a traditional coffin. For that matter, you may have never even thought about being buried. Some people do prefer to choose their casket before they pass. And some people, go out in quite an “unconventional” style with a coffin made in Ghana. Ghanaian culture takes a different approach when it comes to saying goodbye to our loved ones. Coffins in the style of a Mercedez Benz, or a jet airliner, a coke bottle, a mermaid, a shoe, you name it, they’ll make it. Funerals are said to be more like a celebration of life and love, and the coffins should represent the life, dreams, passions, and status of the dead.

For instance, a farm worker chose a chili pepper as his coffin to reflect his life and hard work on his pepper farm. These coffins are not called caskets or coffins but “proverb boxes.” Some sources say the proverb boxes range from $300-$1000 per box.

Take a look at some of the Ghana-inspired proverb boxes that were on display at some museums.

• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

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  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: Donald Williams, Cultural Producer at Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne 2006, studies a Fantasy Coffin in the shape of a shark at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A coffin in the shape of a plane is displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

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  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: Sue Nattrass, Chairman at Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne 2006, studies a Fantasy Coffin in the shape of a running shoe at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).
• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

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  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: Lisa Warrener, Cultural Producer at Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne 2006, studies a Fantasy Coffin in the shape of a mobile phone at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: South Bank employee Lara Delaney stands besides a coffin in the shape of a skier at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

  Share

  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: A coffin in the shape of a spring onion on display for Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne 2006 at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).
• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

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  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: A coffin in the shape of a palm nut is seen on display for Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne2006 at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).

• Melbourne Festival Coffins Unveiled

  Share

  MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 9: Lisa Warrener, Cultural Producer at Exhibitions for Festival Melbourne 2006, studies a Fantasy Coffin in the shape of a frilled neck lizard at 45 Downstairs March 9, 2006 Melbourne, Australia. Funerals in Ghana are colourful and noisy spectacles, and the design of the coffin being carried through the town is an integral element of the funeral ceremony. The coffins on display as part of the Festival are in the shape of a mobile phone, a spring onion, a running shoe, a shark, a palm nut and a frilled lizard. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A coffin in the shape of a boat is displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Unusually shaped coffins are displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A coffin in the shape of a skip is displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A coffin in the shape of a train is displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Coffins in the shape of a Lion and a car are displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Bespoke Coffins Go On Show In London

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A coffin in the shape of a Rolls Royce car is displayed at the South bank Centre on January 20, 2012 in London, England. A collection of bespoke coffins by 'Crazy Coffins' in Nottingham and the famous 'Pa Joe' workshop in Ghana are currently on display at the South Bank centre, who are currently running a festival celebrating life and death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)