Nkyinkyim Museum is also known for its collection of Nsisu/Nsodiɛ, funerary portraits specifically created in memory of enslaved ancestors.
Nsisu/Nsodiɛ is the sacred funerary art /portraiture of the Akan that dates back to ancient times. While funerary portraiture and art is not unique to only the Akan, the word Nsisu/Nsodiɛ is an Akan description that translates to “that which is placed upon’ referring to a vessel ‘that which is placed’ upon a tomb or grave.
Nsisu/Nsodiɛ are usually not created as singles but as a group. The figurative sculpture is created for one who has transitioned together with the portraits of his/her loved ones placed on the tomb or grave of the departed. A personal item is usually inserted into the vessel before placing it on the tomb. The Insisu are prayed on and blessed by traditional priests and placed at the Sacred Area at Nkyinkyim Museum. Commissioned Nsisu/Nsodiɛ become part of our annual Ancestor Veneration Ceremony. You can also request for a special prayer/ remembrance ceremony for your loved one who has transitioned on their birth and transition dates. The styles range from abstract to realistic. The traditional material is terracotta although commissions can also be requested in concrete, brass or bronze. A copy of your commissioned sculpture can be shipped to you upon request.