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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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Gecko Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Gecko Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Red Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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Red Vinyl Phono Record Beads (10mm)

Only 6 left!

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

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Light Orange Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Light Orange Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of 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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$12.00 - $12.00
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Super Jumbo Clear Colored Medley Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Super Jumbo Clear Colored Medley Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Out of stock

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

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$65.00 - $65.00
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Pink & Dark Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm) - The Bead Chest
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Pink & Dark Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (15mm)

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Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

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Sunflower Yellow Patterned Terracotta Beads - The Bead Chest
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Sunflower Yellow Patterned Terracotta Beads

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

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Painted Eye Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (16mm) - The Bead Chest
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Painted Eye Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (16mm)

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

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Sand Stripe Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Sand Stripe Krobo Powder Glass Beads

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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 ...

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Turquoise Green Ghana Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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Turquoise Green Ghana Glass Beads (7mm)

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High-quality strand of blue color small glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 4 x 7mm with strand length of 27". Some variation ...

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$9.25 - $9.25
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Springtime Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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Springtime Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

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

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
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$14.00 - $14.00
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Spring Medley Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
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Spring Medley Sandcast Cylinder Beads

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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. Pu...

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Flower Field Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Flower Field Krobo Powder Glass Beads

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain ( Ghana , West Africa ) ,reproducing old Venetian FANCY trad...

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Speckled Black Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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Speckled Black Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Only 10 left!

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
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Fancy Mixed Elbow Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Fancy Mixed Elbow Krobo Powder Glass Beads

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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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Wound Round Ghana Brass Globe Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$24.50 - $24.50
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Wound Round Ghana Brass Globe Beads (14mm)

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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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Sliced Black Antique Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$245.00 - $245.00
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Sliced Black Antique Venetian Trade Beads

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Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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$245.00 - $245.00
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Super Jumbo Mixed Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00
$65.00
$65.00 - $65.00
$65.00

Super Jumbo Mixed Recycled Glass Beads (34mm)

Out of stock

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

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$65.00 - $65.00
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Sky Blue Glass Disk Beads - The Bead Chest
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Sky Blue Glass Disk Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful ivory-colored glass disk beads. Versatile and great to work with!

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Yellow Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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$33.00 - $33.00
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Yellow Sliced Prosser Button Beads (8mm) (Long Strand)

Out of stock

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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$33.00 - $33.00
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Vintage Green Sliced Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Vintage Green Sliced Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of green sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been ...

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$12.00 - $12.00
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Antique Venetian Feather Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$195.00 - $195.00
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$195.00 - $195.00
$195.00

Antique Venetian Feather Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Feather trade beads! African trade beads were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pr...

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$195.00 - $195.00
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Striated Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (28x12mm) - The Bead Chest
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$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50

Striated Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (28x12mm)

Out of stock

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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$26.50 - $26.50
$26.50
$26.50
$26.50 - $26.50
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Rose Kakamba Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
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$19.95 - $19.95
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$19.95 - $19.95
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Rose Kakamba Prosser Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of rose color kakamba prosser beads Each strand of kakamba is unique and you will receive a beautiful strand of these gorgeous r...

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$19.95 - $19.95
$19.95
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$19.95 - $19.95
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Shaka Medley Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$14.50 - $14.50
$14.50
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$14.50

Shaka Medley Krobo Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of glass beads in a nice multicolor krobo beads. The strand has approximately 50 beads and measures 30" in length. Each bead measu...

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$14.50 - $14.50
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$14.50 - $14.50
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