Figural coffin in the shape of a shoe
Fantasy coffins made in the region around Accra, Ghana, are not only functional carpentry but amazing works of sculptural art. Chiefs and priests of the Ga people were originally buried in these colorful custom coffins as early as 1900, but by the 1950s the tradition became an integral part of local funerary culture.
One of the most famous coffin artists is Paa Joe, who was invited to visit The Children’s Museum in 2002 to create this coffin in the shape of a tennis shoe. Speaking about his beginnings, Paa Joe says, “I trained [with my Uncle Kane Kwei, who was a second-generation fantasy coffin producer] at Teshie, a coastal area of Accra, Ghana, from 1960–1970. I then opened my own coffin studio as the third generation from 1977. I don’t only produce coffins for the dead but also for museums and galleries all over the world for exhibitions.”
