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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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Pink Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Pink Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of pink 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
Sold out
Black Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Black Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 6 left!

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Vintage Red White Heart Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Vintage Red White Heart Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

These vibrant red White Heart beads are varied in color and shape. Unlike Czech and French White Hearts, older Venetian white hearts are harder to ...

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$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Sold out
Sapphire Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Sapphire Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Baby Blue Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

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

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Sold out
Blue Green Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Blue Green Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

in stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Cobalt Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$11.95
$11.95 - $11.95
$11.95

Cobalt Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads

Out of stock

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

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$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$11.95
$11.95 - $11.95
$11.95
Sold out
Deep Red Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Deep Red Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

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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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm)

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...

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Turquoise Vinyl Phono Record Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99

Turquoise Vinyl Phono Record Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a turquoise mint / green color. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeria w...

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$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$3.99
$3.99 - $3.99
$3.99
Sold out
Black & White Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Black & White Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

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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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Cobalt Blue Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Cobalt Blue Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (7mm)

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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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Blue Green Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

in stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

Only 2 left!

Take a look at these unusual yellow color African Phono Record beads. The strand measures 32' long with beads measuring approximately 6mm in diamet...

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Caged Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Caged Cylinder Brass Filigree Beads (35x24mm)

Out of stock

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

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
Sold out
Sky Blue Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Sky Blue Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Here we have a phenomenal strand of beautiful fused glass beads from Ghana. These beads are made by recycling previously used beads. The beads are ...

View full details
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Rose Pink Sandcast Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Rose Pink Sandcast Seed Beads

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of pink sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. Beads such as these are often worn as traditional waist beads. The p...

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$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Blue Millefiori Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Blue Millefiori Krobo Beads

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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Cameroon-Style Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50

Cameroon-Style Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm)

Out of stock

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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$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
Sold out
Papaya Orange Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Papaya Orange Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Sold out
Red Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Red Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Skunk Elbow Krobo Powder Glass Beads

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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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Tangerine Orange Recycled Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Tangerine Orange Recycled Glass Beads (7mm)

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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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Striated Brass Filigree Globe Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Striated Brass Filigree Globe Beads (15mm)

Out of stock

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 ...

View full details
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out