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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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Aqua Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$10.00 - $10.00
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$10.00

Aqua Black Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of ghana recycled glass beads in aqua black swirl color. Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead fro...

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$10.00 - $10.00
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Yellow Padre Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00

Yellow Padre Prosser Button Beads (7mm) (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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$37.00 - $37.00
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Blue Krobo Eye Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
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$12.00

Blue Krobo Eye Beads

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These lively blue Krobo beads have been fashioned to resemble antique Venetian trade beads. Krobo beads are a traditional craft of Ghana in West Af...

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Multicolor Wedding Cake Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Multicolor Wedding Cake Krobo Beads

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Beautiful strand of glass beads in a nice multicolor color. The strand has approximately 40 beads and measures 28" in length. Each bead measures 14...

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Woven Hourglass Brass Filigree Beads (25x14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
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Woven Hourglass Brass Filigree Beads (25x14mm)

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
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Woven Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (17x40mm) - The Bead Chest
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$24.50 - $24.50
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Woven Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (17x40mm)

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Take a look at these Brass "Elbow" 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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Purple White Heart Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
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Purple White Heart Beads (4mm)

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Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent purple white hearts! The strand measures approximately 25" with beads measuring about 6 mm in length.

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Wholesale Lot - 16 Strands of Recycled Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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$128.00
$128.00 - $128.00
$128.00
$99.00
$99.00 - $99.00
$99.00

Wholesale Lot - 16 Strands of Recycled Glass Beads (7mm)

Out of stock

Just in - Take a look at this beautiful wholesale lot of hard-to-find recycled glass beads in a precious 7mm size. You will receive 16 full strands...

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$128.00
$128.00 - $128.00
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$99.00
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Cobalt Blue Patterned Terracotta Beads - The Bead Chest
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$45.00 - $45.00
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Cobalt Blue Patterned Terracotta Beads

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Amazing strand of authentic Cobalt Blue Terracotta Clay Beads from Ghana. These great strands include a medley of shapes including round, bicone, c...

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Vintage Pink Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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$18.00 - $18.00
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$18.00

Vintage Pink Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

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

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$18.00 - $18.00
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Carnival Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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$6.00 - $6.00
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Carnival Medley Phono Record Vinyl Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

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

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$6.00 - $6.00
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Vintage Red Czech Glass Cylinder Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.00

Vintage Red Czech Glass Cylinder Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful red strand of Czech glass beads. Also known as Bohemia, the eastern region of former Czechoslovakia, historically has...

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Blue / Brown Evil Eye Krobo Powder Glass Beads (Large Size) - The Bead Chest
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$15.00 - $15.00
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Blue / Brown Evil Eye Krobo Powder Glass Beads (Large Size)

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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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$15.00 - $15.00
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Mixed Vintage Christmas Beads (Nigeria Medley) - The Bead Chest
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Mixed Vintage Christmas Beads (Nigeria Medley)

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Christmas beads comprise of a special blend of choice beads created in former Czechoslovakia for use in Africa. Also known as "African love beads,"...

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West African Porcupine Shell Beads (Brown) - The Bead Chest
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West African Porcupine Shell Beads (Brown)

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Take a look at these beautiful West African shells often referred to as "porcupine shells." Each one of these special gems was hand collected from ...

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$45.00 - $45.00
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Vintage White Ghana Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$3.99 - $3.99
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Vintage White Ghana Glass Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of vintage white glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 3 x 4mm with strand length of 27". Some variation in ind...

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$3.99 - $3.99
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Vintage Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (17-20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$39.00 - $39.00
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$39.00

Vintage Red Phono Record Vinyl Beads (17-20mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of beautiful beads made from Phono Records. Each strand measures approx. 34" long with beads measuring 17-20mm in d...

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$39.00 - $39.00
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Vintage Phono Record Beads (Mixed) - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
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Vintage Phono Record Beads (Mixed)

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of African beads made from Phono Records. The strand measures 29-32" long with beads measuring 5-7mm in diameter. ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
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Vintage Multicolor Phono Record Vinyl Beads (5-7mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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$12.50

Vintage Multicolor Phono Record Vinyl Beads (5-7mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of African beads made from Phono Records. The strand measures 32-34" long with beads measuring 5-7mm in diameter. ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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Vintage Mixed Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00

Vintage Mixed Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm)

Out of stock

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

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$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
$17.00
$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
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Vintage Maroon Phono Record Vinyl Beads (5mm) - The Bead Chest
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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
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$18.00

Vintage Maroon Phono Record Vinyl Beads (5mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of African beads made from Phono Records. The strand measures 32-34" long with beads measuring approximately 5 mm i...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Flat Bicone Brass Leaf Filigree Beads (25x11mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Flat Bicone Brass Leaf Filigree Beads (25x11mm)

Out of stock

These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, West Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 2...

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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
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Asparagus Green Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Asparagus Green Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

in 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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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Blue Eye Cylindrical Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Blue Eye Cylindrical 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