I sell 11 coffins a week - Coffin producer

When you hear the word coffin; what comes to your mind? Many people fear going near coffins or caskets, even when they are empty. But have you ever thought of those who make them? Claude Nono is one of the brains behind such scary products.

“I don’t know why people get scared of coffins, when it is obvious that everyone will die someday. Coffins are just like any other furniture made of wood. The trade is profitable too. Averagely, when demand is high, I sell about 11 caskets a week,” Nono stated.

The designer explained that, like every other business, casket designing has its own challenges; some caskets could stay in stock for so long, hence, their décor fades necessitating a fresh coat of paint and decoration which adds to production cost. Also, some customers are not realistic.

“A customer may give you an order and later on come to plead with you to sell it under some excuse of someone else offered a coffin; this is one of the rare and biggest challenges. Even though we are very few in the business in Buea, there is fierce competition and sometimes I go for a month without talking to my rivals because of jealousy.”

Nono is a man who has been able to make his life only from casket designing. He specialises on this and his family especially his wife, Solandge Nono, supports and encourages him in the business.

“She is a designer too. She does décors during funerals, especially the room where corpses are laid,” Nono added.

Grace Etieh, a Buea inhabitant observed that the coffin business in Buea is not very popular because people are psychologically shaken whenever the issue of coffins is raised. She thinks of death whenever she sees or imagines a coffin.

“I get frightened and at times see some deceased persons in my sleep,” Etieh revealed.

Another Buea resident, Patrick Loh, questioned why should an ordinary piece of furniture fill people with bad feelings? Even some of those who study wood work do not focus on this aspect, Loh quipped.

Helmut Ahaleh is a carpenter who says he did not specialise in making coffins because, his parents objected when he mentioned his desire to do so. He said his reason for opting to make coffins is because it is not a season business, as there is always the demand for them at all times. He, however, said his parents’ objection was on grounds that such a trade could invite frequent death to the family. Ahaleh regrets having listened to his parents as a child and affirms that casket making does not only yield income, but is a modest service to humanity.

Alex Takou, a casket designer corroborates Alaheh. To Takou, the coffin business is very lucrative. He explains that a minimum amount he receives from a single sale is FCFA 40,000 and a maximum of FCFA 300,000. Some very rich people even pay close to a million for a casket like the ‘Hummer Jeep coffin.’

Coffin making requires some specialisation. Many may think just any carpenter who can gable a house or make a bench is capable of making a casket, Takou pointed out. Caskets are made of different designs, depending on the choice of the customers. Names such as Hummer, Valise, Hammer, Papillion, Bebe Manga, Bend head, Tom Yoms, box, bed coffin, to name but these, are attributed to various designs, Takou added.

Henry Bena, a coffin vendor told the post that he is very satisfied with his line of business.

“What I am doing is a service to mankind and it takes a lot of courage to be a master of this kind of trade. When people die, they need to be comfortable, so I am proud of my service to humanity,” Bena stated.