The world of Ghanaian funerals is one of color, symbolism, and deep cultural meaning — far removed from the somber tone often associated with death elsewhere. Swiss anthropologist and photographer Regula Tschumi has spent over two decades documenting these extraordinary ceremonies, capturing how life and legacy intertwine in Ghana’s unique funerary art.
Her newly released book, “Buried in Style: Artistic Coffins and Funerary Culture in Ghana,” offers a detailed look into the customs of the Ga, Fante, Ewe, and Asante communities across Greater Accra and neighboring regions. The collection spans twenty years of work, showcasing extraordinary handcrafted coffins, lavish funeral processions, and the celebrated “coffin dancers” who turn grief into vibrant performance.
At the heart of Ghanaian funerals lies the belief that death is not the end, but a transition — a journey that deserves celebration. Tschumi’s lens has captured everything from a fisherman buried inside a blue teapot to a pineapple seller laid to rest in a pineapple-shaped coffin. Chiefs, priests, and everyday workers are memorialized in artistic caskets symbolizing their lives and professions. These designs, originally inspired by traditional palanquins, are handmade by local artisans who take up to ten days to craft each masterpiece.
Tschumi’s work also highlights the emotional and spiritual dimensions of these ceremonies. Events like “laying out” — where the deceased is displayed in life-like poses for loved ones to pay their final respects — reveal the community’s effort to keep the departed connected to the living. Modern undertakers, such as Benjamin Aidoo and his renowned coffin dancers, have further transformed funerals into vibrant expressions of joy and remembrance, their rhythmic movements symbolizing a celebration of life rather than mourning.
Her photography doesn’t just preserve a fading tradition — it reveals a world where art, faith, and death coexist harmoniously. Through her commitment and cultural sensitivity, Tschumi has gained unprecedented access to ceremonies once hidden from outsiders, offering a rare glimpse into the secretive yet profoundly human world of Ghanaian funerals.
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