Fun article in the NY Times today about Ghanaian ex-pats in New York City carrying on the tradition of boisterous funerals from back home in Ghana. Interestingly, it notes:
The funerals have become such money makers that the pretexts for them are sometimes a bit thin … A New Yorker, for example, might hold a party for a cousin’s niece’s husband who died in Ghana, even if the two had never met and few of the proceeds are intended for the family back home.
Makes one wonder if the business model is traditional as well! While we’re on the subject, here’s an oldie but goodie from 2009 of ThisWorldMusic/UMass in Ghana student Mike Thacker cutting a rug with some friendly locals at a village funeral…and the crowd goes wild!