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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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Old Turquoise Venetian Glass Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Old Turquoise Venetian Glass Beads (Long Strand)

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Admire this special strand of venetian glass beads. These beads are said to be 50 to 100 years old, although their exact age is unknown. Pay attent...

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Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

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Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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$179.00 - $179.00
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Eye Design Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (35x12mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Eye Design Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (35x12mm)

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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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Blue Camouflauge Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Blue Camouflauge Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

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

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Pistachio Green Ghana Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Pistachio Green Ghana Glass Beads

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Long strand of pistachio color african glass beads. Beads measure 6mm in diameter.

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Pink Ghana Glass Beads (2 strands) - The Bead Chest
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Pink Ghana Glass Beads (2 strands)

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

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Amber Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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Amber Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

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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Yellow Ghana Rice Beads - The Bead Chest
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Yellow Ghana Rice Beads

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Interesting african beads made from glass in shape of rice grains.Yellow beads measure 5mm diameter by 8mm long.

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Green Mosaic Jumbo 25mm Fused Beads (Set of 2) - The Bead Chest
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Green Mosaic Jumbo 25mm Fused Beads (Set of 2)

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This great pair of beads was made in Ghana, West Africa. Each piece is designed by combining small bits of green, blue, and white glass in a handma...

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Purple Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
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Purple Sandcast Cylinder Beads

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

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Fancy Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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Fancy Medley Vinyl Phono Record Beads (6mm)

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

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Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
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Lavender Recycled Glass Beads (Small)

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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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Mini-Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
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Mini-Bicone Brass Filigree Beads (10mm)

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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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Brass Filigree Beads, Bicone Design - The Bead Chest
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Brass Filigree Beads, Bicone Design

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These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 28" l...

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Dark Clear Aqua Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Dark Clear Aqua Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

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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
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Light Green Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
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Light Green Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Only 1 left!

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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Antique Green & Red Striped Venetian Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Antique Green & Red Striped Venetian Glass Beads

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Admire this hard-to-find strand of antique venetian glass beads. These handmade vintage beads were originally produced in Venice, Italy sometime in...

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Carnival Medley Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
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Carnival Medley Sandcast Cylinder Beads

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Take a look at this beautiful strand of African sandcast beads in a whimsical mix of carnival colors! The process of making these beads is unique t...

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Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design (Small) - The Bead Chest
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Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design (Small)

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These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 30" l...

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$22.00 - $22.00
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Mixed Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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Mixed Rondelle Recycled Glass Beads

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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
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Mixed Ghana Glass Chevron Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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Mixed Ghana Glass Chevron Beads (6mm)

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We are in love with the unique and bright colored patterns of these striking Ghanian Glass Seed Beads. These Glass Seed Beads are truly remarkable ...

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Mini Woven Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (25x10mm) - The Bead Chest
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Mini Woven Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (25x10mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these Brass Filligree-style trade beads from Africa. Each elbow-shaped bead is individually made by the "Lost Wax process" technique...

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$22.00 - $22.00
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Bright Krobo Medley Powder Glass Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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$18.00 - $18.00
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Bright Krobo Medley Powder Glass Beads (Long Strand)

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

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$18.00 - $18.00
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Blue and Orange Sandcast Powder Glass Beads (2 Strands) - The Bead Chest
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$6.50 - $6.50
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Blue and Orange Sandcast Powder Glass Beads (2 Strands)

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful strands of multicolor sandcast beads from Ghana, West Africa. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and ha...

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$6.50 - $6.50
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