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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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Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$16.50 - $16.50
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular)

Out of stock

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

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
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Large Bauxite Beads (7x14mm) - The Bead Chest
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00

Bauxite Disk Beads (7x14mm)

Only 7 left!

Bauxite is a type of aluminum ore. All African bauxite beads are hand made and drilled, making these beads very labor demanding. Bauxite beads like...

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$36.00 - $36.00
$36.00
$36.00
$36.00 - $36.00
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Autumn Medley Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
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$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Autumn Medley 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...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
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$8.00 - $8.00
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Braided Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Braided 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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$24.50 - $24.50
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$24.50 - $24.50
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Sky Blue Kakamba Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Sky Blue Kakamba Prosser Beads

Out of stock

These blue czech-made "Prosser" beads were strung and traded in West Africa. Modeled after vintage "kakamba" beads, these beads each have a unique...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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$14.00 - $14.00
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Striated Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (15x11mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Striated Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (15x11mm)

Out of stock

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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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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$22.50 - $22.50
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Raw Earthy Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Raw Earthy Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

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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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
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White & Yellow Flower Krobo Beads (11x8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

White & Yellow Flower Krobo Beads (11x8mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Made from bottles a...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Jumbo Round Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (40mm) - The Bead Chest
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$95.00 - $95.00
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$95.00
$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00

Jumbo Round Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (40mm)

Out of stock

These Extra Large Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is ...

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$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00
$95.00
$95.00 - $95.00
$95.00
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Caged Basket Brass Filigree Beads (17x19mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Caged Basket Brass Filigree Beads (17x19mm)

Out of stock

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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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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Super Jumbo Blue Wave Marine Recycled Glass Beads (32mm) - The Bead Chest
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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Blue Wave Marine Recycled Glass Beads (32mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these unique Super Jumbo Blue Wave Marine Recycled Glass Beads. Handmade in Ghana, Africa these oversized beads are truly stunning. ...

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$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
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Super Jumbo Papaya Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Super Jumbo Papaya Orange Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (35mm)

Out of stock

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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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
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$45.00 - $45.00
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Jumbo Pastel Yellow Opaque Recycled Glass Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00

Jumbo Pastel Yellow Opaque Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)

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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$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Deep Purple Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in stock

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

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Super Jumbo Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (32mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (32mm)

Only 5 left!

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized brown 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
Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (10mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$85.00 - $85.00
$85.00
$85.00
$85.00 - $85.00
$85.00

Faceted Russian Blue Glass Trade Beads (10mm) (Long Strand)

Out of stock

Among the most celebrated of faceted beads, Russian Blues derive their romantic name from their involvement in the Russian fur trade of the Pacific...

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$85.00 - $85.00
$85.00
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$85.00 - $85.00
$85.00
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Super Jumbo Light Green Recycled Glass Beads (32mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Light Green Recycled Glass Beads (32mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized green 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
Sold out
Super Jumbo Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Root Beer Brown Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Only 2 left!

Take a look at this exceptionally large strand of jumbo-sized brown 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
Red & White Flower Krobo Beads (11x8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Red & White Flower Krobo Beads (11x8mm)

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Made from bottles and other glass ite...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Cameroon-Style Brass Filigree Bicone Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00

Cameroon-Style Brass Filigree Bicone Beads

Out of stock

This beautiful strand of African brass beads was made by independent artisans in Ghana. Inspired by traditional Cameroon motifs, these "cameroon-st...

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$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$19.00
$19.00 - $19.00
$19.00
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Vintage Yellow Bajigega Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00

Vintage Yellow Bajigega Venetian Trade Beads

Out of stock

These beautiful yellow Venetian trade beads are commonly known in West Africa and Ghana as "bajigega" beads. Shaped in a cylinder form, these glass...

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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
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Striped Circular Brass Filigree Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Striped Circular Brass Filigree Beads

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Premium Purple Skunk Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Premium Purple Skunk 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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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
Sold out
Sliced Blue Prosser Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Sliced Blue Prosser Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

Up for sale is a nice strand of sliced cobalt blue glass from Africa. These beads originated in Czech and made by pressing molten glass. They hav...

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$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
Sold out