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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.

Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
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White Metal Coil Beads

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Beautiful strand of white metal coil beads. Unique design!

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Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
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Green Padre Prosser Button Beads (9mm) (Long Strand)

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Sliced Prosser Beads, otherwise known as button beads, get their name from their unique shape. These beads originated in the former Czechoslovakia ...

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Original price $16.50 - Original price $16.50
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Green Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

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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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Original price $16.50 - Original price $16.50
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Original price $26.80 - Original price $26.80
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Black Rectangular Polka Dot Skunk Beads (9x19mm)

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A beautiful strand of black and white skunk beads less common rectangular shape, made to resemble the older Eye beads produced in Italy in the 1800...

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Original price $26.80 - Original price $26.80
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Original price $29.00
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Jumbo Light Green Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

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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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Jumbo Blue Swirl Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

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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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Jumbo Round Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (28mm)

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These unusually large Ghana Brass beads are made individually using the "Lost Wax process" technique. This is a traditional casting method used in ...

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Original price $45.00 - Original price $45.00
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Jumbo Cobalt Blue Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

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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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Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
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Wound Bicone Ghana Brass Beads (17x11mm)

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

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Original price $22.50 - Original price $22.50
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Original price $26.50 - Original price $26.50
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Jumbo Bicone Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (34x21mm)

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

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Original price $26.50 - Original price $26.50
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Original price $12.00 - Original price $12.00
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Old Cobalt Blue Kenya Turkana Beads

in stock

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

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Turquoise-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm)

in stock

Admire these beautiful glass beads from Ghana designed to imitate authentic turquoise gemstone. These cylindrical beads are rich in detail and text...

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Red White Heart Beads (5mm)

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Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent red white hearts! The strand measures approximately 27", with beads measuring about 4.5-5mm in diame...

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Original price $10.00
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Red Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads

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

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Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
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Original price $65.00 - Original price $65.00
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Super Jumbo Grey Mist Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Only 7 left!

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

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Original price $65.00 - Original price $65.00
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Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
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Light Yellow Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads

in stock

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

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Original price $8.00 - Original price $8.00
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Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Red Vintage Ovally Ghana Resin Beads

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Take a look at these vintage trade beads brought from Ghana. Commonly referred to as "Ovally beads" these resin beads come in a deep red color and ...

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Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Original price $14.00 - Original price $14.00
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Green Candycane Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

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This uniquely patterned strand of rondelle beads is made using traditional methods used to create powder glass beads. The procedure for making the ...

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Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
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Amber Sandcast Beads

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Checkout this beautiful amber colored strand of African sandcast beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used fo...

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Original price $15.00 - Original price $15.00
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Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Jumbo Blue Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (26mm)

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Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized dark blue green swirl recycled glass beads. Large beads such as these are hard to fin...

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Original price $29.00 - Original price $29.00
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Original price $35.00
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Yellow King Trade Beads

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Here we have a beautiful strand of yellow King Beads. Strands like this are hard to come across. They are handmade of the highest quality glass. Ea...

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Original price $35.00
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Original price $14.00
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Vintage Sliced Peach Sandcast Beads

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These beautiful orange powder glass beads, also known as orange sandcast, are vintage beads from West Africa. Powder glass beads in this unique sli...

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Original price $14.00
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Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
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Jumbo Amber Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Only 4 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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Original price $35.00 - Original price $35.00
Original price $35.00
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Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
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Yellow Venetian Glass Watermelon Oval Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads. Similar to the commonly known "watermelon chevrons", these beads are a rare, solid yellow color, alm...

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Original price $24.00 - Original price $24.00
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