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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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Jumbo Clear Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)
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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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Jumbo Light Blue Recycled Glass Beads (24mm)
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Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful Light Blue recycled beads are made us...
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Jumbo Blue Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized blue recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder...
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Jumbo Charcoal Black Recycled Glass Beads (22mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized black recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harde...
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Jumbo Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized blue recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder...
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Jumbo Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized orange recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even hard...
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Jumbo Red Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized red recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder ...
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Circular Star Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (24mm)
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Take a look at these tabular-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. T...
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Spherical Natural Ghana Horn Beads (15-30mm)
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This exceptional strand of beads is handmade from cow horn in Ghana, West Africa. Look carefully and you will see the unique grain of the polished ...
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Jumbo Blue Wave Marine Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder to f...
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Caged Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)
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Take a look at these cylinder-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. ...
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Jumbo White Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (24mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder to f...
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Wave Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)
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Take a look at these cylinder-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. ...
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Jumbo Black Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder to f...
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Burundi Brown Natural Seashell Beads
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Take a moment to admire these interesting Brownish Shell Beads. Found in Ghana, natural shell beads like these are unique in their color and patter...
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Nested Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)
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Take a look at these cylinder-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. ...
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Cameroon-Style Brass Filigree Globe Beads (24mm)
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Take a look at these Brass "Globe" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is...
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Cameroon-Style Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)
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Take a look at these cylinder-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. ...
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Weaved Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)
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Take a look at these cylinder-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. ...
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Jumbo Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized brown recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harde...
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Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Red French Cross)
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Admire these unique and unusually large painted glass beads made by artisans from the Krobo tribe in Ghana. These special beads work great as focal...
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Jumbo Natural West African Shell Beads (White)
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From the shores of West Africa, these large shell beads have a timeless and simple beauty. The natural matte finish of these shells gives them a ru...
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Jumbo Bright Red Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)
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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized red recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harder ...
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Jumbo Traditional Ghana Powder Glass Beads
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Bold and colorful, these carefully fashioned beads nicely demonstrate the bead-making tradition of West Africa. Crafted by a skilled artisan, powde...
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