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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…

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)

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.