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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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Old Black Kenya Turkana Beads - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Old Black Kenya Turkana Beads

in stock

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Super Jumbo Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

in 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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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
Lime Green Kente Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Lime Green Kente Krobo Beads (14mm)

in stock

These green ghana glass beads are commonly known as "kente beads." Spherical in shape with a golden brown stripe through the middle, these African ...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Super Jumbo Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

in 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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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
Light Orange Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Light Orange Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of orange color Ghana glass disk beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for ...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00

Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (23mm)

in stock

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

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$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
Jumbo Amber Black Swirl Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00

Jumbo Amber Black Swirl Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

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...

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$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
Sold out
Baby Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Baby Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

Only 10 left!

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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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Blue Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Blue Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in 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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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
White Kente Krobo Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
$21.50
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50

White Kente Krobo Beads (18mm)

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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$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
$21.50
$21.50 - $21.50
$21.50
Jumbo Clear Aqua Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00

Jumbo Clear Aqua Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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

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$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
Sold out
Basket Design Oval Brass Filigree Beads (20x18mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Basket Design Oval Brass Filigree Beads (20x18mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these oval-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. This...

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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Circular Leaf Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Circular Leaf Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (12mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful Mini Brass Filigree Leaf pattern beads. These beads are from West Africa and each bead is handcrafted by local artis...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
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Special Medley of Glass Mixed Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Special Medley of Glass Mixed Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look a this great medley of glass trade beads! These beads have been collected from various West African countries including Nigeria, Ghana,...

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$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out
Dark Green Strawstack Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Dark Green Strawstack Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

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

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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
Sold out
Purple Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Purple Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

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

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Green Swirl Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Green Swirl Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

in 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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Circular Leaf Brass Filigree Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Circular Leaf Brass Filigree Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

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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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Ghana Brass Saucer Beads (13x14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00

Ghana Brass Saucer Beads (13x14mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these unusual brass trade beads from Ghana, West Africa. Each bead is individually handmade with craftsmanship that you can really ...

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$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
Sold out
Circular Star Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (24mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Circular Star Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (24mm)

Out of stock

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...

View full details
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Christmas Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Christmas Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads [MISSING COLOR] color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria where they ar...

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$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
Sold out
Blue and White Ghana Glass Beads (2 Strands) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Blue and White Ghana Glass Beads (2 Strands)

Out of stock

Two strands of blue & white colored small glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 2-4 x 4-5mm with strand length of 24". Some ...

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$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Sold out
Serpentine-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Serpentine-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm)

Out of stock

Admire these beautiful glass beads from Ghana designed to imitate authentic serpentine stone. These cylindrical beads are rich in detail and textur...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Light Green Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Light Green Sandcast Cylinder Beads

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of African sandcast. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over 1000 years. Pu...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00