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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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Braided Style Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
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$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Braided Style Ghana Brass Filigree Beads (9mm)

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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$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
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$23.50 - $23.50
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Vintage Blue Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
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$12.00

Vintage Blue Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

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

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Spider 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 trade b...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Midnight Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Midnight Blue Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads

Out of stock

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

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$12.50 - $12.50
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$12.50 - $12.50
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Grey Kente Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Save 17% Save %
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Grey Kente Krobo Beads (14mm)

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...

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$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
Save 17% Save %
Aja Style Sliced Teal Krobo Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Aja Style Sliced Teal Krobo Beads (9mm)

Out of stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain (Ghana, West Africa). This strand was designed to resemble o...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
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Brick Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular) - The Bead Chest
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$16.50 - $16.50
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$16.50

Brick Red Recycled Glass Beads (Tabular)

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful recycled glass beads. Powder glass beads are made by crushing glass to a fine powder and heating it so that the part...

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$16.50 - $16.50
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Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
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$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Striped Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful chevron trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
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Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Aqua Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Out of stock

Krobo tribes-people are world-reknown for the beautiful recycled glass beads they create using a process developed by their forebears. Interestingl...

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$16.50 - $16.50
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Translucent Green Ghana Glass Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
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$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00
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$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00

Translucent Green Ghana Glass Seed Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of green glass seed beads from Ghana, strung on a traditional raffia string. Each bead measures approximately 3-4 x 4mm with stran...

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$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00
$4.00
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$4.00
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Vintage Turquoise Teal Glass Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
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$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
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$17.00

Vintage Turquoise Teal Glass Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

This beautiful strand of African glass beads comes in a rare turquoise-teal color. Different from modern-day Ghanaian glass beads, these special be...

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$17.00 - $17.00
$17.00
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$17.00
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Teal Fade Oblong Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Teal Fade Oblong Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

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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$16.00 - $16.00
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Rectangular Leaf Ghana Brass Filigree Beads - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
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$22.50

Rectangular Leaf Ghana Brass Filigree Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at these rectangle-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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Purple Padre Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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$12.00

Purple Padre Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at these beautiful translucent purple padre beads. Made from Czech glass, padre beads such as these have been traded in African since a...

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$12.00 - $12.00
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Orange and Blue Sandcast Powder Glass Beads (2 Strands) - The Bead Chest
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$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50

Orange and Blue 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
$6.50
$6.50
$6.50 - $6.50
$6.50
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Extra Large Bauxite Beads (7x20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$35.00 - $35.00
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$35.00

Extra Large Bauxite Beads (7x20mm)

Out of stock

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

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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
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Evil Eye Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Evil Eye 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 trade...

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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
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Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

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
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
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Striated Sun Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (40x12mm) - The Bead Chest
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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Striated Sun Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (40x12mm)

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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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
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Green Spot Geometric Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Green Spot Geometric Krobo Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of glass beads in a nice green multicolor geometric pattern. The strand has approximately 35 beads and measures 26” in length. E...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
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Eye Stripe Brown Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Eye Stripe Brown 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 trade b...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Criss Cross Brass Filigree Mini-Globe Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Criss Cross Brass Filigree Mini-Globe Beads (9mm)

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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$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
Sold out
Eye Design Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (53x17mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Eye Design Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (53x17mm)

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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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
Sold out
Brown Chevron Beads (6x8mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Brown Chevron Beads (6x8mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this nice strand of Glass Chevrons from Ghana. Beads such as these are likely of Czech origin but traded in West Africa. These padre-sized...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out