The Real Story Behind the Dancing Pallbearers You’ve Probably Seen on the Internet

By now, I’m sure most of you will have seen one of the many bizarre videos of 6 suited pallbearers in Ghana, throwing a variety of shapes while copiously balancing a coffin on their shoulders.

And it isn’t difficult to see why.

These pallbearers give a funeral experience of a whole new level.

And, like these things always do, the video has quickly been turned into a meme.

Which basically shows a clip of someone doing something dangerous, stupid, or life-threatening, before quickly jumping to the footage of the infamous pallbearers dancing to a techno beat.

— dan nolan (@dannolan) 1585987433.0

The idea is that anyone who may do something worthy of death, whether it be literally or metaphorically, will be awaited by the dancing pallbearers.

Including this hideous one, where a man destroys his girlfriend’s near-completed jigsaw puzzle. Okay, this guy deserves a visit from the pallbearers.

As the ongoing pandemic rages, Ghana’s pallbearers have become the accidental faces of the stay-at-home movement – comedic grim reapers edited into footage of risky lockdown behavior as a warning.

These guys are probably the best thing to happen to 2020…

And Twitter just cannot get enough of them.

Though the videos hold huge entertainment value, many are wondering why exactly these pallbearers dance and prance around at funerals like this. Because, aren’t funerals supposed to be sad?

And, believe it or not, it isn’t a set-up.

In Ghana, people have started to see funerals as an opportunity to celebrate the life of the deceased, rather than mourn it.

Creators of the “coffin dance”, the Nana Otafrija service hosts an array of bereavement services, such as funeral directing, lowering devices, pallbearing, waiting services, hearses, brass bands, live bands, decorations, and video coverage.

Who all have a vast selection of outfits and dance moves for each individual burial.

They can work up to 5 or 6 funerals per week…

And business is booming.

And, speaking about his inspiration behind the company, he explained, “In Ghana, you have to be creative to move ahead. So, at first, people were using all black when someone is being buried – Pallbearers wear all black.” “So I thought, no, let me add color.”

“I decided to add varieties, buy my own suits, buy my own shoes, buy everything. And we started from there, and then I called people to join me.”

And Benjamin believes there’s always room for improvement. “We always improve on our choreography, on our dancing. We bring in more styles to suit people, for people to know that, yeah, these pallbearers are unique in their display.”

But, despite the individuality of Benjamin’s service, there’s always room for competition.

In the last couple of years, demand for this type of send-off has been growing across communities in Ghana, and so has Benjamin’s competition, which only makes us wonder…

Okay, maybe I’m being a little optimistic. But it is amazing to see such a unique send-off, and great to see smiles on the faces of those who are grieving. For more on the crazy world of internet memes, keep scrolling to read about what the woman behind the iconic “crazy girlfriend” meme is up to these days…