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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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Kente Krobo Powder Glass Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Kente Krobo Powder Glass Beads (Long Strand)

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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$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Large Vintage Christmas Beads (Turquoise Medley) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$6.75 - $6.75
$6.75
$6.75
$6.75 - $6.75
$6.75

Large Vintage Christmas Beads (Turquoise Medley)

Out of stock

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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$6.75 - $6.75
$6.75
$6.75
$6.75 - $6.75
$6.75
Sold out
Green Ghana Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25
$9.25
$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25

Green Ghana Glass Beads (7mm)

Out of stock

High-quality strand of green 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
$9.25
$9.25
$9.25 - $9.25
$9.25
Sold out
Mini Wound Brass Bicone Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Mini Wound Brass Bicone Beads (10mm)

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
Sold out
Translucent Yellow Ghana Glass Seed Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00
$4.00
$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00

Translucent Yellow Ghana Glass Seed Beads

Out of stock

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

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$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00
$4.00
$4.00 - $4.00
$4.00
Sold out
Jumbo Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (23mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00

Jumbo Brown Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (23mm)

Out of stock

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

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$27.00
$27.00 - $27.00
$27.00
$25.00
$25.00 - $25.00
$25.00
Sold out
Salmon Pink Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (10mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Salmon Pink Ashanti Glass Saucer Beads (10mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of pink Ashanti glass saucer beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Super Jumbo Earth Swirl Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (34mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00

Super Jumbo Earth Swirl Bicone 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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$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
$55.00
$55.00 - $55.00
$55.00
Sold out
Teal West African Flower Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$11.95
$11.95 - $11.95
$11.95

Teal West African Flower Beads

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of glass beads in a nice multicolor color. The strand has approximately 170 beads and measures 29" in length. Each bead measures 4...

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$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$11.95
$11.95 - $11.95
$11.95
Sold out
Teal Eye Round Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Teal Eye Round Krobo Beads

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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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Tangerine Orange Strawstack Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Tangerine Orange Strawstack Beads

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of green strawstack sandcast beads. The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over...

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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
Sold out
Blue Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Blue Chevron-Style Aja Krobo Beads (11mm)

Out of stock

These blue powder glass beads are inspired by traditional "Aja" trade beads. Shaped as thin, sliced disks, these great beads open up a plethora of ...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00
$22.00
$22.00 - $22.00
$22.00

Brass Filigree Beads Oblong, Basket Design

Out of stock

These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 26" l...

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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 (42x12mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Eye Design Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (42x12mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Green Flower Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Green Flower 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
Sold out
Sunflower Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Sunflower 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...

View full details
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Orange Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Orange 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 amber color recycled beads are made u...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
Sold out
Striated Sun Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (42x15mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Striated Sun Brass Filigree Elbow Beads (42x15mm)

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
Spiral Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50

Spiral 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 i...

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$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
$23.50
$23.50 - $23.50
$23.50
Sold out
West African Sea Shell Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

West African Sea Shell Beads

Out of stock

Take a second to admire these marvelous Sea Shell Beads. Coming to us all the way from West Africa these Sea Shell Beads are truly unique. Strung b...

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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
Sold out
Jumbo Sapphire Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Jumbo Sapphire Bicone Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Only 8 left!

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

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Basket Design Oblong Brass Filigree Beads (45x16mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00

Basket Design Oblong Brass Filigree Beads (45x16mm)

Out of stock

These Brass trade beads are from Ghana, Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. The strand is about 24-26"...

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$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
$26.00
$26.00 - $26.00
$26.00
Sold out
Blue & White Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00

Blue & White Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads (Long Strand)

Out of stock

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

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$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
$39.00
$39.00 - $39.00
$39.00
Sold out
Olive Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm) - The Bead Chest
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00

Olive Swirl Recycled Glass Beads (11mm)

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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$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00 - $10.00
$10.00