8am-4pm PST
8am-4pm PST
These great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsKrobo tribes-people are world-reknown for the beautiful recycled glass beads they create using a process developed by their forebears. Interestingl...
View full detailsBright, beautifully colored glass trade beads with an occasional plastic spacer bead. Originally made in southern Spain, Venice, and Czechoslovakia...
View full detailsThese great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsThese great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsThese delightful vinyl beads are colorful as can be. Traditionally worn as waist beads, their light weight makes them a fun and versatile addition ...
View full detailsThese great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsBright, beautifully colored glass trade beads with an occasional plastic spacer bead. Originally made in southern Spain and Venice especially for t...
View full detailsThese great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsTwo strands of turquoise color small glass beads from Africa. Each bead measures approximately 4mm in diameter by 3mm in length. Some variation in ...
View full detailsChristmas beads comprise of a special blend of choice beads created in former Czechoslovakia for use in Africa. Also known as "African love beads,"...
View full detailsRecycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful blue color recycled beads are made us...
View full detailsRecycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful grey color recycled beads are made us...
View full detailsAdd a clean and pure touch to your custom design projects with these great White Seed Beads. Masterfully crafted by artisans in Ghana these White S...
View full detailsBeautiful strand of brass glass seed beads from Ghana, strung on a traditional raffia string. Each bead measures approximately 3-4 x 4mm with stran...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of green color Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used f...
View full detailsTake a look a this great medley of glass trade beads! These beads have been collected from various West African countries including Nigeria, Ghana,...
View full detailsA beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa ), resembling old Venetian FANCY trade b...
View full detailsA beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Many designs of Krobo beads are patte...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of teal color Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used fo...
View full detailsRecycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana in West Africa. These beautiful blue recycled beads are made using...
View full detailsThese great beads are made by the Krobo People of Ghana, Africa. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so t...
View full detailsTake a look at these beautiful baby blue recycled glass beads. Measuring approximately 14mm in diameter, with a hole size of 2-3mm, these fun paste...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of multicolor African vinyl beads. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are sometimes...
View full detailsGhana is home to the largest bead markets in Africa. Below are African beads imported from Ghana. Trade beads have a long history in the West African country of Ghana. In fact, Ghana beads were once a form of national currency and were used to purchase many different kinds of goods including alcohol, slaves, and even textiles. The production of beads in Ghana was first documented over 200 years ago however evidence of bead production extends over two thousand years. Due to their use in trade, beads in Ghana may have a wide variety of origins that trace ancient and modern trade routes including Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Modern Ghana overlaps with the terrain of the ancient Ghana Empire.
A number of bead varieties are locally produced in Ghana. These include recycled glass beads that are made from empty glass bottles, seashell beads, as well as Krobo beads. The manufacturing of recycled beads is one way that the people of Ghana use traditional inspiration to bring new uses to old materials. The process involves breaking used bottles in pieces that are then melted and shaped using clay molds designed with the desired shape in mind. Beads may be washed in sand and then painted with designs.
Similarly, Ghana is one of the most important countries for the manufacture of Krobo beads. This name Krobo, is derived from the fact that a great deal of the powdered glass beads in Ghana are produced Krobo artisans. However craftsmen from the Ashanti ethnic group are also heavily involved in this production. Beads continue to play a role in traditional Krobo culture where they are used for many different ceremonies such as birth, marriage, death, and coming of age rituals such as Dipo where girls where a large number of beads and perform special dances. African beads are also used as a symbol of status and are worn by community leaders and chiefs.
In recent years, there has been a revival in the use of trade beads in Ghana so much so that young people are wearing them as an expression of pride in African tradition. Interestingly, the different colors that are used in the design of beads have different symbolism such as blue that represents purity, white that represents fertility, and gold that represents wealth.