In Ghana, funerals are more than just a time of mourning—they are full-scale social events where fashion, status, and networking take centre stage.
What should be a solemn gathering to honour the dead often transforms into a display of the finest kente, lace, and designer shoes.
If you thought weddings were the only events where people dress to impress, you clearly haven’t been to a Ghanaian funeral.
The Funeral Fashion Show
A funeral in Ghana is incomplete without a well-coordinated outfit. Families go all out, ordering custom-made funeral cloth with the deceased’s face printed boldly on it.
Attendees take fashion just as seriously—men arrive in crisp Kaftans and polished shoes, while women showcase elaborate headwraps, imported lace, and heels high enough to defy physics. It is mourning, yes, but in style.
The funeral colours—usually black and red for the main event, and sometimes white for the thanksgiving service—are strictly observed.
Some even go as far as hiring tailors months in advance to ensure they stand out. Because, of course, you can’t just show up in any black attire—it has to be the right black attire.
A Prime Business Networking Opportunity
Funerals in Ghana are also unofficial business networking events. With so many dignitaries, politicians, and successful businesspeople in attendance, connections are made over bowls of jollof and bottles of soft drinks.
Deals are discussed, political alliances are strengthened, and old friendships are rekindled—all while a somber dirge plays in the background.
It’s not uncommon to see people exchanging phone numbers right after wailing uncontrollably. The atmosphere of grief somehow doubles as a professional gathering, proving that even in mourning, life—and business—must go on.
The Competitive Crying Championship
Perhaps the most baffling part of Ghanaian funerals is the category of mourners who seem to cry louder than anyone else—sometimes even louder than the immediate family.
These professional mourners put on Oscar-worthy performances, rolling on the ground, screaming the deceased’s name, and making dramatic declarations of grief.
Ironically, these individuals often had the weakest connection to the deceased.
They may have met them once or, in some cases, never at all. Yet, their crying is so intense that one begins to wonder if they are in line for an inheritance.
Mourning with a Touch of Extravagance
Ghanaian funerals are a unique blend of grief, glamour, and social networking.
While they remain a time for paying respects, they have undeniably evolved into grand events where fashion, connections, and dramatic displays of sorrow steal the show.
Whether you’re attending to genuinely mourn or to make an impression, one thing is certain—no one does funerals quite like Ghanaians.
