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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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Woven Round Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Woven Round Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (12mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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Tangerine Orange Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Tangerine Orange Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

in stock

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

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest Save 7% Save %
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Black Phono Record Vinyl Beads (8mm)

in stock

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

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$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Save 7% Save %
Jumbo Teal Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00

Jumbo Teal Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

We are loving the bold Teal color of these amazing Jumbo Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads. Coming to us all the way from Ghana, Africa these handcraft...

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$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$25.00
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Dark Blue Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Dark Blue Mini-Disk Sandcast Beads

Only 2 left!

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
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Jumbo White Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (24mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo White Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (24mm)

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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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
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Bright Rainbow Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Bright Rainbow Medley 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
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Blue Green Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50

Blue Green Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

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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$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
Whimsical Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Whimsical Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of African vinyl beads in a whimsical rainbow mix of colors. Beads such as these are found in Ghana and Nigeri...

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$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
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Red Venetian-Style Skunk Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Red Venetian-Style Skunk Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this pretty strand of Red & White Skunk beads, resembling traditional Venetian beads which are used in Africa for trade. The str...

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$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Green White Heart Beads (5-6mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent green white hearts! The strand measures approximately 24", with beads measuring about 5-6mm in diame...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Cobalt Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Cobalt Blue Vinyl Phono Record Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

Admire these vibrant strands of Cobalt Blue Vinyl Beads. Vinyl beads like these are handcrafted by artisans in places like Ghana and Nigeria. Vinyl...

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$6.00 - $6.00
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Save 20% Save %
$10.00
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$8.00

Cobalt Blue Glass Beads (2 Strands)

in stock

Two strands of cobalt blue small glass beads from Africa. Each bead measures approximately 4mm in diameter by 3mm in length. Some variation in indi...

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$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Save 20% Save %
African Blue Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 6% Save %
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$15.50
$15.50 - $15.50
$15.50

African Blue Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (14mm)

in stock

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

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$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$15.50
$15.50 - $15.50
$15.50
Save 6% Save %
Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

Out of stock

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Sold out
Purple Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Purple 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
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Matte Green & Yellow Ghana Chevron Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Matte Green & Yellow Ghana Chevron Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

This exceptional strand of green ghana chevron beads is matte in finish and patterned with yellow stripes. These beads are superb to use as spacers...

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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
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Dark Grey Cylindrical Kente Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Dark Grey Cylindrical Kente 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
Pumpkin Orange Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Pumpkin Orange Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 3 left!

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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Jumbo Teal Recycled Glass Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Teal Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)

in 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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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
Fire and Water Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Fire and Water Fused Rondelle Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 9 left!

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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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Spring Medley Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Spring Medley Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

Out of stock

Brought to you from the hands of Ghanian artisans, this lovely recycled glass bead strand includes a medley of blue, green, clear, red and brown be...

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
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Ghana Brass Donut Beads (14mm)(Set of 10) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99
$4.99
$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99

Ghana Brass Donut Beads (14mm)(Set of 10)

Out of stock

These rustic brass rings were individually cast by an African artisan. Brass casting is a traditional craft of Ghana in West Africa and has been pr...

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$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99
$4.99
$4.99 - $4.99
$4.99
Sold out
Pink 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

Pink Vinyl Phono Record Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

We are loving the vivid pink tone of these excellent Vinyl Beads. Vinyl beads can make for a fun a simple waist chain when worn as is. You can also...

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$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out