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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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Ghana Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Ghana Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

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

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$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
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Ghana Candy Cane Rondelle Powder Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00

Ghana Candy Cane Rondelle Powder Glass Beads (14mm)

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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Dark Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 1 left!

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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Jumbo Light Blue Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$29.00
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$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00

Jumbo Light Blue Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

From the villages of Ghana, these beautiful recycled glass beads are made by artisan craftspeople 100% by hand. The beads themselves are made using...

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$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
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$23.00
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Jumbo Red Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
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$35.00 - $35.00
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Jumbo Red Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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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$35.00 - $35.00
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Green Eye Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$10.00 - $10.00
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Green Eye Krobo Beads

Out of 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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$12.00 - $12.00
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$10.00
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Glass Snake Beads, Sea Green Color (9mm) - The Bead Chest
$59.00 - $59.00
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$59.00

Glass Snake Beads, Sea Green Color (9mm)

Only 10 left!

This strand of interlocking Czech glass beads is called "SNAKE" trade beads because of its similarity to the snake vertebrae.They date back from ...

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$59.00 - $59.00
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$59.00 - $59.00
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Orange Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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$4.99
$4.99 - $4.99
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Orange Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm)

Out of stock

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

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$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$4.99
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Striated Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.00 - $22.00
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Striated Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm)

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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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$22.00 - $22.00
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Charcoal Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
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$12.00

Charcoal Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

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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$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Saharan Sand Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
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Saharan Sand Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

This uniquely patterned strand of round recycled glass beads is made using traditional African methods. The procedure for making the beads consists...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Super Jumbo Light Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Super Jumbo Light Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Out of stock

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...

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$45.00 - $45.00
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Maroon Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
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Maroon Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

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

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$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
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Magenta Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00

Magenta Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

Out of 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...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this fun and vibrant strand of Yellow Vinyl Beads! These beads are eco-friendly and handmade out of recycled Phono Records. Beads li...

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$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$14.00
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$14.00
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Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
$26.00 - $26.00
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$26.00

Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (23mm)

in 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...

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$26.00 - $26.00
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Aqua Blue Padre Beads - The Bead Chest
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Aqua Blue Padre Beads

in stock

Take a look at these beautiful translucent aqua blue padre beads. Made from Czech glass, padre beads such as these have been traded in African sinc...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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$24.00 - $24.00
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$24.00

Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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$24.00 - $24.00
$24.00
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Salmon Red Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Salmon Red Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

Take 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...

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$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Sold out
Turquoise Glass Colodonte Beads - The Bead Chest
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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
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$45.00

Turquoise Glass Colodonte Beads

Out of stock

Colodonte beads are a traditional oval-shaped bead made in Czechoslovakia during the mid 20th century. These beads were exported from Czechoslovaki...

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
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$45.00 - $45.00
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Black Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
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$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Black Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in stock

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

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$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Save 24% Save %
Jumbo Dark Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (24mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Dark Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (24mm)

Out of stock

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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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
Sold out
Teal Tic-Tac-Toe Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Teal Tic-Tac-Toe Krobo Beads

Out of 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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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Red & White Fused Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Red & White Fused Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

Only 2 left!

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00