Skip to content
Free Shipping on US Orders $99 and Above!
Free Shipping on US Orders $99+!
About Us Wholesale Reviews Reorder Wishlist

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.

Filters

$
$
Mixed Green Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Mixed Green 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...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Blue & White Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50

Blue & White Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

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

View full details
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
Sold out
Red Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Red Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (9mm)

in stock

We love the classic deep Red and Black Swirl color of these beautiful Recycled Glass Beads! Artisan beads like this are handmade in Ghana, Africa. ...

View full details
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
Teal Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Teal Sandcast Cylinder Beads

Out of 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. P...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Premium Black Tribal Krobo Beads (12x11mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Premium Black Tribal Krobo Beads (12x11mm)

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...

View full details
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Midnight Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Midnight Black Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (10mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of black Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for ove...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Golden Brown Sandcast Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Golden Brown Sandcast Seed Beads

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of golden brown sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. Beads such as these are often worn as traditional waist bead...

View full details
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Sold out
Sunrise Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00

Sunrise Vinyl Phono Record Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

These fun beads are lightweight and colorful. Reminiscent of the colors at dawn, each strand will consist of a unique medley of beads that includes...

View full details
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$7.00 - $7.00
$7.00
Sold out
Super Jumbo Black Recycled Glass Beads (32mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Black Recycled Glass Beads (32mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
Black and White Glass Beads (3mm, 2 Strands) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00

Black and White Glass Beads (3mm, 2 Strands)

Out of stock

Two strands of black and white small glass beads from Africa. Each bead measures approximately 3mm in diameter. Some variation in individual beads ...

View full details
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$6.00
$6.00 - $6.00
$6.00
Sold out
House Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

House Medley Fused Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (8mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Cream White Sandcast Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Cream White Sandcast Seed Beads

Out of stock

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

View full details
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
Sold out
Light Blue Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50

Light Blue Green Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Only 4 left!

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...

View full details
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
$17.50
$17.50 - $17.50
$17.50
Matte Red White & Blue Ghana Chevron Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Matte Red White & Blue Ghana Chevron Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

This exceptional strand of ghana chevron beads is matte in finish and patterned with red, white & blue stripes. These beads are superb to use a...

View full details
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Sold out
Jumbo Light Orange Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00

Jumbo Light Orange Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

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

View full details
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
Sold out
Corn Yellow Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (Smooth) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Corn Yellow Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads (Smooth)

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...

View full details
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Rainbow Medley Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Rainbow Medley Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (8mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Old Ghana Medley Trade Beads (Large) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00

Old Ghana Medley Trade Beads (Large)

Out of stock

These assorted old Ghana beads reflect the diverse sources of African Beads. Each strand will include a variety of beads that may include imported ...

View full details
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
Sold out
Jumbo Yellow Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Save 14% Save %
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00

Jumbo Yellow Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

in stock

Recycled glass beads like these are made using traditional bead-making techniques that have been used for generations by the Krobo people Africa. G...

View full details
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00
Save 14% Save %
Purple Fused Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Purple Fused Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

in stock

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

View full details
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Jumbo Green 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 Green Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

Add a deep Forest Green tone to your jewelry and home decor projects with these amazing Jumbo Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads. Take a closer look and...

View full details
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
$23.00
$23.00 - $23.00
$23.00
Sold out
Amber Color Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Amber Color Sandcast Cylinder Beads

Out of 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. P...

View full details
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Pistachio Green Small Glass Beads (2 Strands) - The Bead Chest
Save 20% Save %
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Pistachio Green Small Glass Beads (2 Strands)

in stock

Two long strands of pistrachio color small glass beads from Africa. Each bead measures approximately 4mm in diameter by 3mm in length. Some variati...

View full details
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Save 20% Save %