The Artfulness of Death in Africa

If weddings are the most lavish events in many parts of the world, in Sub—Saharan Africa, by contrast, it is funerals. Funeral celebrations can be flamboyant occasions, particularly those honoring prominent people. Artworks of many kinds are created to commemorate the dead from mortuary sculptures and extravagant coffins to elaborate headstones, memorials, monuments, and cenotaphs.

This book is a unique survey of the artful nature of funerals in Africa. Drawing on a wide range of historical...