The people of West Africa mourn like anybody else would when a loved one passes. Mothers and fathers, siblings and spouses are often overcome by sorrow, regret, and other emotions that are universal to the human experience. However, it is custom for many in the continent to ritualize funeral ceremonies as something festive and uplifting. Such was the case for a family who recently said their goodbyes to one of the matriarchs of their Ghanaian village.
Video of pallbearers dancing high and dancing low as they transport a coffin amidst a crowd of onlookers has been going viral. Music can be heard blaring and relatives filmed and snapped photos for what they coin their mother's "home-going." A 2014 CNN feature poses that some pay as much for funerals as they do for weddings in Ghana, with costs at times exceeding $15,000. This according to a funeral planner named Kwaku who had organized 30 funeral parties the very day he was interviewed. People from neighboring provinces often bring food and drinks to help maximize the farewell event.
"I decided to add choreography to it so if the client comes to us, we just ask them: 'Do you want it solemn or do you want a bit more of a display?'" lead Pallbearer Benjamin Aidoo says. Through his work arranging funeral services in Ghana, Aidoo is familiar with the solace it could bring to deliver a funeral as desired. He also knows how it can help impact the local economy, vouching that he has created more than 100 jobs through his work.
