What Ghanaian parents should tell Thier children about the Ashanti funeral customs.
Right after my mum passed away, I was lost and overwhelmed. I couldn't fathom how picking out funeral cloths, renting halls, and stocking up on booze could possibly help my family heal. But my older siblings and cousins, who hail from Ghana, took charge and led us through the process. At first, everything seemed to be going a million miles an hour and I was struggling to keep up. I didn't fully comprehend why certain things were so important. Why were we wearing black for the 1 week commemorations, Black and red for the funeral and black and white for the thanks giving. Having decided these colours why were some people asking what colours we're wearing for the 1 week ? Why is it that the in-laws are buying the drinks for the 1 week and then again at the funeral. Why are we buying special cloth, handkerchief and a ring to be buried with mum. Why have we never known any of these things ??? I longed for a book, an app, an appropriate adult to tell me what to do and...