Kente Cloth and Eyie Ntomaa: Ghana Funeral Attire and Custom Fabric

Kente on the Deceased

The deceased is dressed in their finest attire for the laying-in-state — and for a person of standing, that means high-grade handwoven kente cloth. The quality of the kente is publicly visible and judged. It signals the family's respect for the deceased and their social position in life.

Kente used for burial is typically a full-length cloth (about 6 yards) in rich, deep colours. Some families choose a specific kente pattern that carries a proverb relevant to the deceased's life or lineage. The children and nuclear family are traditionally responsible for providing this cloth, along with the burial shroud, as part of their customary obligations.

Not everyone is dressed in kente. Western formal suits or dresses are also acceptable and increasingly common in urban funerals. The choice often reflects the deceased's own preferences in life — some families honour a parent who always wore kente, while others follow the wishes of someone who preferred Western dress.

Eyie Ntomaa: The Family's Custom Fabric

The most distinctive visual element of a Ghanaian funeral — more so than the coffin or the canopy setup — is the coordinated custom fabric worn by the family and close associates. This fabric is called eyie ntomaa (literally, "funeral cloth"), and it is designed, printed, and distributed specifically for each funeral.

The fabric carries proverbial messages printed along the hem that reflect the family's grief and the deceased's status:

• Owuo sei fie — "Death destroys homes"
• Wiase ben enie — "What sort of life is this?"
• Yen Adeɛ Kɛseɛ Bi Afriyensa — "We have lost something of great value"

The abusuapanyin or the funeral committee selects the fabric pattern and colour during or shortly after the one-week observation. Family members purchase lengths and have them tailored — women into kaba and slit (a fitted blouse and wrap skirt), men into a toga-style drape over the left shoulder with dark shorts underneath.

The eyie ntomaa creates visual unity at the funeral. When dozens or hundreds of family members arrive in the same fabric, it communicates scale, solidarity, and respect.

Cost and Controversy

Custom fabric is a significant cost line. Depending on the quality of the cotton, the printing, and the number of yards needed for a large extended family, the total can run into thousands of cedis. Some traditional areas — notably the Nkoranza Traditional Area — have banned the practice of custom funeral cloth printing entirely, specifically to eliminate the financial pressure on relatives who feel obligated to buy and tailor the fabric even when they can't afford it.

If your family's burial area has by-laws restricting eyie ntomaa, the committee needs to communicate this early. Finding out after the fabric has been ordered and printed is an expensive mistake.

The Colour Grammar

Akan funeral attire follows a strict colour system that shifts across the weekend:

• Kobene (deep red/vermillion): intense grief, raw pain, blood kinship. Worn by the nuclear family and close blood relatives on Saturday afternoon.
• Brisi (dark black/charcoal): solemnity and formal mourning. Worn by general mourners and distant relations on Saturday morning.
• Fitaa (pure white): victory, a successful life transition, spiritual purity. Worn by the family on Sunday at the thanksgiving service. If the deceased was over 70, white may be worn on Saturday as well.

The eyie ntomaa is typically printed in the appropriate colour for Saturday's proceedings — red or dark tones for the afternoon gathering.

Practical Points for Non-Akan Families

If you're attending a Ghanaian funeral as a non-Akan spouse, colleague, or friend, you don't need to commission eyie ntomaa. Wearing solid dark clothing on Saturday and light clothing on Sunday is a respectful default; follow the family's instructions. If the family offers to include you in the custom fabric order, accept — it's a mark of inclusion, not an expense they're imposing on you.

The West African Funeral — Ghana guide includes a full attire reference covering the colour grammar, eyie ntomaa logistics, and the specific mourning regalia (net caps, red peppers, eggshells) worn by the deceased's children.