When you first arrive in Ghana, it’s hard not to notice the numerous banners, T-shirts, and memorial billboards commemorating people who have passed away. As I ventured further north into the Ashanti region, I was struck by how frequent and significant funerals are. Curious about these traditions, I delved into research on the customs and beliefs surrounding death in Ghana.
Ghanaians’ View of Death and the Afterlife
In Ghana, the dead are held in high regard, with the belief that ancestors remain close by to protect their loved ones. Funerals are essential in paying respect to the departed, and while they are important in the UK too, in Ghana, they can take weeks to plan and conclude. Ghanaian views on death and the afterlife vary depending on religious beliefs.
Around 72% of Ghanaians are Christians, 17.6% are Muslims, and 5.2% follow indigenous African religions. However, regardless of faith, traditional African religious practices play a significant role in most funeral ceremonies.
Ghanaian Funeral Traditions
Funerals in Ghana are multi-stage events that often span a week or more, with the main festivities typically held on Saturday mornings after the burial. These events can last all day and involve the entire community.
Ashanti Funerals: A Celebration of Life and Ancestral Reverence
In Ashanti culture, funerals are not just a time of mourning but a communal event that celebrates the life of the deceased and their journey into the ancestral world of Okra. Family members play a hands-on role in preparing the body, and the entire community comes together to participate in this significant occasion.
Funerals can last for several days, with the main festivities often taking place on a Saturday. These events are marked by traditional music, especially talking drums, which convey stories of the deceased's life and their passage to the afterlife. Attendees are dressed in symbolic colours: black and white for most participants, while immediate family members wear red and black to signify their closer relationship to the deceased. Chiefs and elders, seated under elaborate umbrellas, oversee the proceedings, adding a sense of gravitas to the occasion.
Ashanti funerals blend solemnity with celebration, honouring both the life lived and the ancestral role the deceased will now play in protecting their loved ones.
Music and Drums
Traditional music, particularly from “talking drums,” plays a crucial role in Ashanti funerals. These drums don’t just provide rhythm; they communicate stories about the deceased’s life and their journey to the afterlife.
Drummed rhythms can recount ancient tales of death and the passage to the next world, adding a spiritual dimension to the event.
Funeral Colours
Funeral attire in Ghana is symbolic. Community members often wear black and white, symbolising the end of mourning and gratitude to God. In Ashanti funerals, immediate family members stand out in red and black clothing, while chieftains wear traditional garb and sit under elaborate umbrellas to observe the proceedings.
Sons of the deceased may wear net caps adorned with miniature ladders, red peppers, and eggshells. These elements reflect the gravity of the occasion (red peppers) and feelings of grief and vulnerability (eggshells).
Frequency of Funerals and Anniversaries
With funerals typically held on Saturdays, it’s common for several to occur in a single week, especially in towns. Additionally, Ghanaians mark other days of mourning on death anniversaries. The most significant of these is the one-week celebration, held seven days after death. While not as elaborate as the funeral itself, this event is important for commemorating the deceased’s life.
One of the most unique aspects of Ghanaian funerals is the elaborate, personalised coffins known as fantasy coffins.
These coffins are often shaped to represent an item or occupation important to the deceased. For instance, a fisherman might be buried in a coffin shaped like a fish, or a cocoa farmer in one shaped like a cocoa pod.
(Note to anyone reading: I’ve already decided that the cocoa pod is my choice!)
Funeral Etiquette in Ghana
If you’re ever invited to a Ghanaian funeral, it’s essential to observe the local etiquette. Funerals are significant social events, so here are some key points to keep in mind:
Dress Code
Friends and extended family typically wear black and white, while immediate family members wear red and black.
What to Bring
Much like wedding gift registries in the UK, Ghanaian funerals may have a designated spot for gifts or donations.
Funerals can be costly and elaborate, so donations are often welcome to help with expenses. If in doubt, simply ask the family what would be appropriate to offer, whether it’s money, flowers, or another token of sympathy.
Mood and Condolences
Ghanaian funerals often oscillate between somber moments of reflection and joyful celebrations of the deceased’s life.
While it’s important to offer condolences, it’s equally important to be mindful of the family’s religious and spiritual beliefs.
The tone of your sympathy should align with the family’s beliefs, whether Christian, Muslim, or indigenous African religion.
Ghanaian Burials and Ongoing Mourning
Unlike many Western cultures, where mourning usually lasts a single day, Ghanaian communities revere their ancestors with multiple days of mourning throughout the year.
Ancestors hold a sacred place within the family, and their memory is often celebrated several times annually.
Attending a Ghanaian Funeral
If you ever have the honour of attending a Ghanaian funeral, the above information provides a helpful guide to what you can expect.
However, it’s important to remember that practices vary from tribe to tribe. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask the family for guidance.
Ghanaian funerals are profound and meaningful, blending deep respect for the deceased with vibrant celebrations of life and community.
The experience is as much about mourning as it is about honouring the spirit of the one who has passed.