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Ghana Beads

Ghana 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.

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Blue/Green/Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00

Blue/Green/Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

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...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00

Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Take 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...

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$12.00 - $12.00
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Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

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...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
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$16.50 - $16.50
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Teal Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Krobo tribes-people are world-reknown for the beautiful recycled glass beads they create using a process developed by their forebears. Interestingl...

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$12.50 - $12.50
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Cobalt Blue Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
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Crimson Red Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Crimson Red Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
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Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of grey Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over...

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$12.50 - $12.50
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Pistachio Green Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
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Pistachio Green Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (14mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of green Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for ove...

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$12.50 - $12.50
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
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$16.50

Green Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

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...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
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Jungle Green Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
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$15.00

Jungle Green Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

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$15.00 - $15.00
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Autumn Medley Chevron Style Aja Krobo Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 15% Save %
$16.50
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$14.00
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$14.00

Autumn Medley Chevron Style Aja Krobo Beads (15mm)

in stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa), reproducing old Venetian FANCY trade b...

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$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
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$14.00
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$14.00
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Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
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Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

The process for making recycled glass beads is multi-step. The major parts of this process are crushing glass into small pieces that can then be pu...

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Grey Eye Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
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Grey Eye Krobo Beads

in stock

A 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...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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$35.00 - $35.00
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Black Skunk Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of black and white skunk beads, made to resemble the older Eye beads produced in Italy in the 1800 early 1900. The idea of the ...

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$35.00 - $35.00
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Ivory Coast Style Elongated Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (26 x 15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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$22.50

Ivory Coast Style Elongated Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (26 x 15mm)

Out of stock

Admire these amazing Elongated Bicone Brass Filigree Beads! Handcrafted beads like this are made in West Africa and are made using a classical arti...

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$22.50 - $22.50
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Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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$45.00 - $45.00
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Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

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$45.00 - $45.00
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$45.00 - $45.00
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Yellow Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Yellow Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Vintage Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Vintage Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful vintage beads made from phono records. Each strand measures approximately 28-32" long with beads measuring 15mm in d...

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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
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Blue, Green, White Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Blue, Green, White Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful multicolor recycled beads are made us...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Bright Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Bright Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sky Blue Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Sky Blue Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

View full details
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Opaque Multicolor Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Opaque Multicolor Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

View full details
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Fire and Water Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Fire and Water Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 9 left!

This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
House Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

House Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

View full details
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00