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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 Red Fused Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (24mm) - The Bead Chest
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00

Jumbo Red Fused Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (24mm)

Only 7 left!

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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$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" Strand) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$599.00 - $599.00
$599.00
$599.00
$599.00 - $599.00
$599.00

Blue & White Antique Venetian Skunk Trade Beads (45" Strand)

Out of stock

Commonly referred to as "skunk beads", these beautiful African trade beads are of Venetian origin. Beads such as these are said to have been made i...

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$599.00 - $599.00
$599.00
$599.00
$599.00 - $599.00
$599.00
Sold out
African Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

African Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of African vinyl beads arranged in traditional colors of Africa. The strand measures approximately 38" long with be...

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$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Sold out
Yellow Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Yellow Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (11mm)

in stock

These multicolor powder glass beads are inspired by traditional "Aja" trade beads. Shaped as thin, sliced disks, these great beads open up a pletho...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Skunk Design) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Skunk Design)

Out of stock

Admire these unique and unusually large painted glass beads made by artisans from the Krobo tribe in Ghana. These special beads resemble traditiona...

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$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
Sold out
Jumbo Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (22mm) - The Bead Chest
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Groundhog Grey Recycled Glass Beads (22mm)

in stock

Take a look at these beautifully translucent groundhog grey recycled glass beads. Coming all the way from the hands of master Ghanian craftsmen, th...

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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
Root Beer Brown Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Root Beer Brown Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Out of 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
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Charcoal Black Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Charcoal Black Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

in stock

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

in stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Old Red White Heart Beads (2mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Old Red White Heart Beads (2mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of old translucent red white hearts! The strand measures approximately 22-23", with beads measuring about 2mm in di...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Jumbo Blue Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00

Jumbo Blue Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
Sold out
Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

in stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Jumbo Light Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00

Jumbo Light Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
Sold out
Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Lime Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

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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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Sold out
Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Maroon Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this unusual strand of maroon color African Phono Record beads. The strand measures a whopping 36" long with beads measuring 6mm in ...

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$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Sold out
Grey Kente Krobo Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Grey Kente Krobo Beads (11mm)

Only 7 left!

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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Grey Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm)

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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$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
Red Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Red Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in stock

These lovely beads are made by the Krobo People in Ghana, Africa. Custom artisan beads like this have a truly unique artisan quality to them. You c...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Black Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Black Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

in 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...

View full details
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Super Jumbo Earth Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Earth Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Only 8 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...

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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
Black & White Striped Ghana Chevron Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Black & White Striped Ghana Chevron Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

These black & white striped glass seed beads are inspired by traditional chevron patterns. Found in Ghana, these 4mm glass beads are strung on ...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Vintage Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 22% Save %
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Vintage Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (6mm)

in stock

Take a look at this nice strand of African beads made from Phono Records. The strand measures 27-30" long with beads measuring approximately 5-6mm ...

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$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Save 22% Save %
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Old Yellow Kenya Turkana Beads

in stock

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Earth Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Earth Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

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

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$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Sold out