Soap Magazine
Anang has been helping to make the coffins since he was 8 years old . He saw what his grandfather had created and became committed to honoring that legacy , he says : “ I chose to work to maintain my grandfather ’ s story .”
In 2009 , Anang ’ s work was featured in a TV commercial for Coca-Cola – owned sports drink Aquarius . He ’ s represented Ghana at the Black World Festival in Dakar , Senegal ; been invited to Milan Design Week ; and his work has appeared in the Royal Ontario Museum .
In Anang ’ s eyes , the demand for abebuu adekai is on the upswing : “ I ’ m gaining a greater audience , and the demand for the coffins is growing ,” he says . Anang has just returned from Kumasi , where he recently signed the lease for a workshop , so that he can expand to Ghana ’ s second city .
Anang calls me a few days after we first speak to share the good news that he ’ s just received a grant to go to Saskatchewan , Canada , to collaborate with 20 artists from around the world . This is reason enough to fight the rest of his family to keep the shop open , he says . “ It ’ s a family business — a family legacy . I ’ m hoping that they can see that .”
A portrait of Ernest outside the workshop . Photo : Theophilus
Mensah
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