Museum of International Folk Art | October 2025

A Celebration of Life and Art: "Fantasy" Coffins of Ghana
Donors recently enjoyed an immersive evening of art, heritage and remembrance at the Museum of International Folk Art in support of The Art Underground: "Fantasy” Coffins of Ghana. Guests enjoyed African-inspired food, drink and music while discovering Ghana’s tradition of honoring lives through unique fantasy coffins. Co-curators Mark Sloan and Eric Adjetey-Anang shared insights into this extraordinary practice and what to expect in the upcoming exhibition.

Guests will also have the opportunity to sponsor a coffin in memory of a loved one—or in celebration of your own life—helping bring this remarkable exhibition to life.

This event was generously underwritten by Rosalind Doherty, Natalie Fitz-Gerald, Edelma and David Huntley, Sara and Chris Julsrud, and Mary Anne and Bruce Larsen.

About the Exhibition
The Art Underground: "Fantasy" Coffins of Ghana

The origins of Ghanaian fantasy coffins—called abebuu adekai, or “receptacles of proverbs” in Ga—lay in the first half of the twentieth century with figurative palanquins (sedan chairs) used to transport Ghanaian chiefs during traditional festivals.
As the story goes, Seth Kane Kwei built a palanquin in the shape of a cacao pod for a Ga chief. However, before the palanquin could be used, the chief died. Instead of letting the palanquin go to waste, the chief’s family decided to bury him in it. Shortly after, Kane Kwei’s grandmother passed away. Since she had always dreamed of flying in an airplane, her grandson chose to make her coffin in the shape of an airplane so her spirit could fly away. Many people saw both coffins in their funerary processions through Accra. Soon, figurative coffins became wildly popular. Kane Kwei began to produce numerous coffins in myriad forms—including chili peppers, automobiles, farm implements, cell phones, soda bottles, bibles, lions and eagles, to list a few.

This will be the first major U.S. exhibition to unite three generations of fantasy coffin-makers. It includes not only full-size coffins but also documentary films, photographs and artist biographies. The exhibition centers artists’ voices and knowledge, introducing audiences to this cultural and artistic legacy of Ghana through their perspectives. A scholarly exhibition catalog will accompany the exhibition and will be available at the opening.

The Art Underground: "Fantasy" Coffins of Ghana is guest curated by Mark Sloan with Eric Adjetey Anang. It is scheduled to open in July 2026.

Generous funding for The Art Underground: "Fantasy" Coffins of Ghana is provided by the Department of Cultural Affairs, International Folk Art Foundation and the Friends of Folk Art.

Support MOIFA

Your generosity makes programs like these possible. To learn more about giving opportunities, contact Laura Sullivan at laura@museumfoundation.org or 505.216.0829. Thank you for helping MOIFA connect people and communities through the power of folk art.

Image credits: Hello BMW coffin, Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop, photo by Yao Ladzekpo Workshop. Funeral scene in Ghana, photo by Mark Sloan. Eric Adjetey-Anang in his workshop, photo by Mark Sloan. Carpenters at work, photo by Mark Sloan