8am-4pm PST
8am-4pm PST
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.
This uniquely patterned strand of round glass beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making t...
View full detailsTwo strands of dirty brown color small glass beads from Africa. Each bead measures approximately 1-2mm wide by 3-4mm in diameter. Some variation in...
View full detailsTake 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...
View full detailsRecycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful red recycled beads are made using an ...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of white color Ghana glass disk beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for o...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of translucent orange white hearts! The strand measures approximately 25", with beads measuring about 4-5mm in wid...
View full detailsTake a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized clear marine recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to find and eve...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of yellow color white heart beads! White hearts derive their name from the inner core of opaque white glass that is ...
View full detailsA beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa), reproducing old Venetian FANCY trade b...
View full detailsCheckout 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...
View full detailsThese beautiful recycled glass beads are handmade by artisans in the West African country of Ghana. Each bead is individually handcrafted through a...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a purple color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are so...
View full detailsRecycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful red color recycled beads are made usi...
View full detailsThese exquisite millefiori beads are modeled after Venetian Trade Beads, made from multi-color chevron canes by slicing a glass cane, and forming i...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a green and black mix reminiscent of Malachite stone. Beads such as these are found ...
View full detailsCheckout this beautiful strand of black color Ghana glass disk beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for o...
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 detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of brown recycled glass beads. You will receive a 25" strand with approximately 65 beads. Recycled glass beads...
View full detailsThese beautiful recycled glass beads are handmade by artisans in the West African country of Ghana. Each bead is individually handcrafted through a...
View full detailsTwo strands of translucent cobalt blue colored small glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 3 x 4mm with strand length of 25". So...
View full detailsTake 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...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of red African vinyl beads. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are sometimes worn a...
View full detailsCheckout this nice strand of Glass Chevrons from Ghana, Africa. The strand measures 22" in length, with beads measuring approximately 3mm in length...
View full detailsTake a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a yellow color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they are so...
View full details