Where: Ghana, Accra, Ashaiman People: Ga tribe Religion: Catholicism mixed with traditional beliefs and traditions Ritual: Celebration of Life
In Ghana, a funeral is referred to as “A Celebration of Life.” Posters announcing the details of the funeral, including the time and place, are hung throughout the neighbourhood inviting people to attend the ceremonies.
The people of the Ga tribe has a tradition of burying important persons in handmade coffins that reflects the dead person’s profession or passion in life. This tradition probably originated from the figurative palanquins used to carry the kings of the Ga tribe in public and, after death, to the burial grounds.
People from the Ga tribe believe that death is not the end, and that life continues in the next world in the same way it did on earth. Ancestors are also thought to be much more powerful than the living and able to influence their living relatives. This is why families do everything they can to ensure that a dead person is sympathetic towards them as early as possible. The social status of the deceased depends primarily on the importance, success and usage of an exclusive coffin during burial.
The poultry farmer Joseph Huno Nomo (aka Nene Nomo) died at the age of 68. Joseph was very succesful in his work, which enabled him to buy a house for his entire family on the outskirts of Accra. As a tribute to Joseph, his family had a wooden coffin shaped like a chicken made for the funeral.
Thank you to Joseph and his family for letting me document the funeral service of Joseph. And huge thanks to John Owoo and Eric Adjetey Anang for all their help.
Posters in the streets informing about the funeral arrangements – when and where Joseph will be lying in state, the thanksgiving service, Joseph’s family and the chief mourners. Friends and sympathizers are invited to participate in the funeral ceremonies.Family members have picked up Joseph from the nearby morgue. Now he is “defrosting” in the family’s living room before the undertaker begins to prepare him for the ceremonies.The undertaker is preparing Joseph for his wake.Jospeh is lying in state on the chicken shaped coffin in which he will later be buried.Joseph is lying in state in the porch of the house, which he managed to buy for his family.Joseph’s wife, Janet Dedo Nomo, is looking at her husband.A fetish priest praying over Joseph.Joseph’s wife, Janet Dedo Nomo, is sitting outside the porch with another family member and a friend. Wearing red shows that you are part of Joseph’s family.A friend of the family wants Joseph to bring money with him to the other side to one of her dead relatives.The handmade coffin weights around a 100 kg plus the weight of Joseph.Joseph is being transported to the local church on a pick-up truck, passing his chicken farm in the background.A Celebration of Life – people are spontaneously singing and dancing during the ceremonies.Since most churches in Ghana don’t allow the designer coffins inside the church, the ecclesiastical act is held in front of the church.A family member is mourning the death of Jospeh.It is customary to have a small leaflet honouring the life of the dead made for people attending the funeral ceremonies.Joseph’s wife, Janet Dedo Nomo, is being comforted.Joesph is being transported to the village, where he was born.In the village where Joseph was born, people gather around the coffin for local rituals.Mourning villagers.Jospeh is carried to the grave by members of the local church.Yes! Joseph is buried inside the chicken shaped coffin.
