Sooner or later, we all have a date with death. But leaving this world doesn't have to be generic or conventional. In the Greater Accra region of Ghana, there is a very special artist.
His name is Paa Joe, and for decades he has dedicated himself to building colorful and unusual coffins. If you want to travel into eternity in a fire truck, a sandal, a lion, or a giant fish, he is the man to look to for inspiration.
With a padded interior, metal details, and well-finished wood (though cheaper than it looks), there isn't much to highlight about modern coffins. In the past, there were some rather curious ideas, including the intention to transform coffins into crystal modules to preserve the body of the deceased.
The ecological impact of burials and cremations has also been studied, leading to the exploration of other alternatives. Many people out there want to leave in a different way, but if we focus specifically on coffins, we'll find a man who rewrote some rules. To get to know him better, you have to travel to the Republic of Ghana:
His name is Paa Joe, almost as colorful as his creations in recent decades. A true pioneer in the category of "coffin artists", Paa Joe allowed his works to be exhibited around the world. No matter how absurd or extravagant the idea for a coffin, he made it a reality.
However, every brilliant era must come to an end, and Paa Joe entered a very complicated stage of his life. Part of it is seen thanks to the documentary Paa Joe and the Lion, in which he seeks to recover his lost glory alongside his son Jacob. Below we share some of his most outstanding works.
Gallery
