Ghana Gives Grand Goodbyes With Planes, Peacocks, And Playful Coffins

A giant pink fish, a colorful peacock, an airplane painted with the national flag. These are just some of Ghana's fantasy coffins, known as Abebuo, which translates to "proverb."

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Each piece is crafted not just to bury the deceased, but to embody the essence of their life. A farmer isn't laid to rest in a car; instead his coffin might take the shape of the tools he used or the crops he cultivated. The design itself becomes metaphor, a wooden riddle, a final message left behind.

Fantasy coffins, while common among the Ga people of Accra, are becoming a widespread practice, offering a colorful alternative to simple wooden boxes.