Stories and facts

A typical Akan eulogy is a deeply meaningful tribute that honours the deceased and also reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people of Ghana. It combines respect, storytelling, and traditional expressions to celebrate the life and character of the departed while offering solace to family and community members.

A sample Akan eulogy often begins with a respectful greeting to the audience, acknowledging the presence of family, friends, and community leaders. It usually starts by giving thanks to the ancestors and higher powers, recognising that life and death are part of a greater spiritual cycle.

The speaker then moves on to describe the deceased’s personal qualities and achievements, often highlighting their role within the family, community, and sometimes their profession. For instance, an Akan eulogy may praise the deceased for being a loving parent, a hard worker, or a person of integrity and wisdom. These qualities are illustrated through stories or specific examples, giving the audience a clear picture of the person’s life and influence.

Proverbs and Akan idioms play a vital role in the eulogy, weaving cultural wisdom and moral lessons into the speech. For example, the Akan might use proverbs about the strength of family, the importance of patience, or the value of honesty. These sayings not only enrich the eulogy but also reinforce the community’s shared values.

The tone of the eulogy is typically respectful and sincere, avoiding exaggeration but not shying away from acknowledging hardships the deceased faced, since such moments often reveal the strength of character. The speaker may also offer words of comfort and encouragement to relatives, reminding them of cultural beliefs about continuation and reunion in the ancestral world.

A typical closing might include a blessing or a call for unity among family members and friends as they support each other through grief. The eulogy may end with a proverb about life’s cyclical nature or an expression of hope and peace for the deceased.

Below is a brief example of how an Akan eulogy might sound:

Sample Akan Eulogy Excerpt:

"Yɛda abusua, nnamfo, ne wɔn nyinaa a wɔahyiam wɔ ha nnɛ no ase no, yɛda Onyame (Onyankopɔn) ne yɛn nananom ase sɛ wɔaka yɛn abom. Na yɛn nua dɔfo, Kofi Asante, yɛ ɔbarima a ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔwɔ akokoduru kɛse. Ɔyɛɛ adwumaden de hwɛɛ n’abusua na wandan obiara a ohia mmoa no da. Sɛnea Akan bɛ ka no, ‘Obi nnim a, obi kyere’ — bere a obi nnim no, obi foforo kyerɛkyerɛ." Ná Kofi yɛ ɔkyerɛkyerɛfo wɔ asɛm ne nneyɛe nyinaa mu.

Ɔde boasetɔ soaa asetra mu nnesoa na ɔde koma a egyina pintinn gyinaa nsɛnnennen biara ano. Ɛwom sɛ n’akwantuo no aba awieeɛ wɔ asase yi so deɛ, nanso yɛnya awerɛkyekyerɛ wɔ nim a yɛnim sɛ wasan aba abɛka nananom ho, ahwɛ yɛn berɛ a yɛtoa abusua no atetesɛm a ɛyɛ ahantan no so. Momma yɛnkae n'adɔe na yɛnkɔ so nyɛ biako, efisɛ asubɔnten no nkutoo ntumi nkɔ po no mu da." which translates to;

"To the family, friends, and all gathered here today, we give thanks to Onyame (God) and our ancestors for bringing us together. Our beloved brother, Kofi Asante, was a man of great humility and courage. He worked hard to provide for his family and never turned away anyone in need. As the Akan proverb says, ‘Obi nnim a, obi kyere’ — when one does not know, another teaches. Kofi was a teacher in both word and deed.

He carried the burdens of life with patience and faced every challenge with a steady heart. Though his journey has ended on this earth, we find comfort in knowing he has returned to join the ancestors, watching over us as we continue the family’s proud traditions. Let us remember his kindness and remain united, as the river is never alone on its way to the sea."

Discover more features of Ghanaian funeral traditions in the collection below