Skip to content
Free Shipping on US Orders $99 and Above!
Free Shipping on US Orders $99+!
About Us Wholesale Reviews Reorder Wishlist

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.

Filters

$
$
Weaved Brass Filigree Globe Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Weaved Brass Filigree Globe Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful Brass "Globe" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. Th...

View full details
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

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...

View full details
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Purple 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...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Brown & Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Brown & Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads multicolor color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are som...

View full details
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
Sold out
Jumbo Olive Green Recycled Glass Beads (21mm) - The Bead Chest
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Olive Green Recycled Glass Beads (21mm)

Only 3 left!

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized olive green recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even...

View full details
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
Purple White Heart Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
$8.50 - $8.50
$8.50
$8.50
$8.50 - $8.50
$8.50

Purple White Heart Beads (4mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of purple color white heart beads! White hearts derive their name from the inner core of opaque white glass that is ...

View full details
$8.50 - $8.50
$8.50
$8.50
$8.50 - $8.50
$8.50
Bauxite Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 13% Save %
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Bauxite Beads (8mm)

in stock

Bauxite is a type of aluminium ore. All African bauxite beads are hand made and drilled, making these beads very labor demanding. Bauxite beads lik...

View full details
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Save 13% Save %
Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of black color Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used f...

View full details
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Earth 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...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Dark Brown Kente Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Dark Brown Kente Krobo Beads (14mm)

in stock

Ghana is known for its history of traditional bead-making. These beautiful powder glass beads are made by Krobo tribe people using centuries-old te...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Speckled Blue Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50

Speckled Blue Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Green 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...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Premium Multicolor Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$18.50 - $18.50
$18.50
$18.50
$18.50 - $18.50
$18.50

Premium Multicolor Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

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...

View full details
$18.50 - $18.50
$18.50
$18.50
$18.50 - $18.50
$18.50
Wound Round Ghana Brass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Wound Round Ghana Brass Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these Brass "Globe" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand i...

View full details
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Light Grey Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 67% Save %
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Light Grey Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

in stock

Take a look at these great Light Grey Vinyl Beads. Handcrafted in West Africa, these beads are made using recycled Phone Records. Every strand is a...

View full details
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Save 67% Save %
Coral Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Coral Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

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
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

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...

View full details
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Old Navy Blue Kenya Turkana Beads - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Old Navy Blue Kenya Turkana Beads

in stock

These authentic navy blue Turkhana beads were worn by the people of northwest Kenya. Less prominent but slightly more numbers than the Maasai, the ...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sapphire Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Sapphire Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

in stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a green color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are som...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Super Jumbo Clear Aqua Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Super Jumbo Clear Aqua Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Only 7 left!

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of super jumbo-sized recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and even harde...

View full details
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this unusual strand of maroon color African Phono Record beads. The strand measures a whopping 37" long with beads measuring 6mm in ...

View full details
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Sold out
Grey Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Grey Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm)

in stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a grey color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are some...

View full details
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Speckled Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Speckled Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

These beautiful recycled glass beads are handmade by artisans in the West African country of Ghana. Each bead is individually handcrafted through a...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Criss Cross Brass Filigree Globe Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Criss Cross Brass Filigree Globe Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these lovely Round Brass Filigree Beads. These beads come to us all the way from West Africa. Master-craftsmen mold and pattern thes...

View full details
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out