In recent months, Ghana’s distinctive funeral practices have taken social media by storm, igniting a mix of controversy and fascination among users.
The trend of dressing the deceased in attire that reflects their profession has become a hot topic for discussion, as families aim to give their loved ones a ‘royal’ send-off into the afterlife.
Imagine this: a barber who has passed away is propped up in a seated position, clippers in hand, as if he’s giving one last haircut. This striking display has raised eyebrows and sparked debates about whether these practices are rooted in tradition or simply a social media phenomenon.
This emerging trend follows Ghana’s well-known penchant for extravagant caskets that symbolise the deceased’s profession or social status.
TikTok sensation, Julio, recently weighed in on the trend, advising his followers to think twice before passing away in Ghana.
“One of the last places that you want to pass away is in Ghana, after the videos that I’ve seen of these Ghanaian funerals. Oh my goodness, I cannot imagine that happening to me and my spirit not being mad,” he remarked.
He further commented on the peculiar nature of the practice, stating, “Maybe it’s just culture shock because I’m not from Ghana, so I’ll never understand that. Funerals are very sad, but you have these dudes propped up while they’re dead, and you’re looking at their dead body just standing up. Is that not a little creepy?”
Julio’s comments have sparked a wave of reactions online, with some users expressing their dissatisfaction and even calling for government intervention.
Akosua Steff shared her surprise, writing, “Culture shock… I’m Ghanaian and I’m still shocked bro.” Another user, Ayxh, declared, “It’s not a TRADITION! It’s totally wrong to do that here; people just be doing a whole lot of stuff,” while others are pleading with the government to enact laws against the mishandling of corpses.
However, not everyone is opposed to these practices. User Lemoninyourwounds chimed in with a lighter perspective, stating, “I’m Ghanaian here, and although that practice is done, it’s not very mainstream. I will say I’ve cracked up seeing a lot of the skits around this, though; hella funny.”
Many TikTok users have made a trend with this, with some acting as corpses dressed in their professional attire.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke