my uncle fell ill and battled for a while before succumbing to the illness. He was a teacher and his children desired he be buried in a tool of his trade, a BIRO!
Also on display are some cultural attributes of our people Ashanti region.
On the morning of the funeral, as early as 5am the wailing begins and thats the aspect that really pushes your emotions!
then a service is conducted especially if the deceased is a christian before internment at about noon.
The family then sits at a large open place to recieve condolences from visitors who also contribute to the family in cash as a way of support.
Here are a few pictures

Tool of his trade

lying in state

mourners

teaching colleagues adding color to the event

I hope his pay while alive was commensurate with his passion for his trade.

more teachers at the event

Eiya

section of pupils from the school he taught for many years who came to pay the last respects

elders in the family

maidens carrying gifts as a rite of passage for the dead...we believe in life after death and these gifts are said to be given to the deceased to accompany him along the hereafter. They include soap, creams, wine, handkerchiefs etc

sweets and perfumes are included in the items carried by the maidens

a solemn moment ....his daughter

some women trying to console his family

May his soul rest in peace

the coffin on display

jaszplus12:
maidens carrying gifts as a rite of passage for the dead...we believe in life after death and these gifts are said to be given to the deceased to accompany him along the hereafter. They include soap, creams, wine, handkerchiefs etc

Do these gifts go in the coffin with him?

InTheCloudySky:
May his soul rest in peace

Amennnnn!!
Thank you

InTheCloudySky:
Do these go in the coffin with him?

No please it is only symbolic.
Usually it will be shared among family members after the internment

InTheCloudySky:
Do these gifts go in the coffin with him?

usually the gifts are shared to family members after the internment, so it is only symbolic as though he is been given provisions going to the hereafter

OP can you please remove the picture of his corpse?

RIP to your uncle.

RIP Comrade

jaszplus12:

No please it is only symbolic.
Usually it will be shared among family members after the internment

jaszplus12:

usually the gifts are shared to family members after the internment, so it is only symbolic as though he is been given provisions going to the hereafter

Oh okay. Thanks for the explanation. You could've said it was "symbolic" earlier but your use of the word "accompanying" made it seem like they somehow go with him, lol.

InTheCloudySky:

Oh okay. Thanks for the explanation. You could've said it was "symbolic" earlier but your use of the word "accompanying" made it seem like they somehow go with him, lol.

thanks for the correction. I think the 'accompanying' aspect is like the one the ancient Egyptians did to the Pharoahs old. They loaded the tombs with provisions and other items to take with him to the afterlife!

Hmmmn

jaszplus12:

thanks for the correction. I think the 'accompanying' aspect is like the one the ancient Egyptians did to the Pharoahs old. They loaded the tombs with provisions and other items to take with him to the afterlife!

This was actually why I thought the gifts would go in the tomb. I read your comment about the gifts accompanying him and thought of the ancient Egyptians who were buried with what were known as grave goods. These were personal belongings, foods/favorite foods, drinks, games, furniture, etc., needed to provide the dead with what they would need in the afterlife. Was this symbolic feature of the ceremony channeled after the ancient Egyptians' funerary practice?

InTheCloudySky:
This was actually why I thought the gifts would go in the tomb. I read your comment about the gifts accompanying him and thought of the ancient Egyptians who were buried with what were known as grave goods. These were personal belongings, foods/favorite foods, drinks, games, furniture, etc., needed to provide the dead with what they would need in the afterlife. Was this symbolic feature of the ceremony channeled after the ancient Egyptians' funerary practice?

Thank you again. The tradition requires the gifts to be presented in front of guest and only symbolicly "accompanying" the deceased.
The Egyptian culture is different and I think more elaborate and interesting too.

Mstick:
OP can you please remove the picture of his corpse?

RIP to your uncle.

OK that's the more reason i used a picture that's not too clear at his lying in state
But let me try and edit that. Thanks