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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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Black & White Ghana Striped Glass Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
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Black & White Ghana Striped Glass Beads (3mm)

Out of stock

Beautiful strand of black & white striped glass beads from Ghana. Each bead measures approximately 2 x 3mm with strand length of 26". Some vari...

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$5.00 - $5.00
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Black & Red Eye Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
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$12.50

Black & Red Eye 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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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Azul Star Shape Recycled Glass Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
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Azul Star Shape Recycled Glass Beads

Out of stock

Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful azul blue color recycled beads are ma...

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$35.00 - $35.00
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Awalleh Style Sliced Brown Krobo Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$15.00 - $15.00
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$15.00

Awalleh Style Sliced Brown Krobo Beads (12mm)

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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$15.00 - $15.00
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Authentic Zebra Layered Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$42.00
$42.00 - $42.00
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Authentic Zebra Layered Powder Glass Beads

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Admire these exceptional, handmade powder glass beads made to resemble the African zebra. These fine beads are made by crushing recycled glass into...

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$49.00 - $49.00
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$42.00
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Turquoise White Heart Beads (3mm) - The Bead Chest
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$8.50 - $8.50
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Turquoise White Heart Beads (3mm)

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Checkout this beautiful strand of old translucent turquoise white hearts! The strand measures approximately 24", with beads measuring about 3mm in...

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$8.50 - $8.50
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Hausa Tribal Round Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.50 - $12.50
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Hausa Tribal Round 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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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
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Antique Venetian Green Stripe Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$89.00 - $89.00
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Antique Venetian Green Stripe Trade Beads

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Commonly referred to as "African trade beads", these beautiful glass beads are of Venetian origin. Beads such as these are said to have been made i...

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$89.00 - $89.00
$89.00
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$89.00 - $89.00
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12 Strand Rainbow Bundle - Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$147.00
$147.00 - $147.00
$147.00
$109.00
$109.00 - $109.00
$109.00

12 Strand Rainbow Bundle - Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful 12 strand bundle of recycled glass beads. These beautiful glass beads are made by Krobo artisans in an age-old, production pr...

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$147.00
$147.00 - $147.00
$147.00
$109.00
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$109.00
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Olive Green Recycled Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.00 - $9.00
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$9.00

Olive Green Recycled Glass Beads (7mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of olive green recycled glass beads. These beads are unusually small, in a hard-to-find 7mm size. Great for br...

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$9.00 - $9.00
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Tulip Purple Kakamba Prosser Beads - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
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Tulip Purple Kakamba Prosser Beads

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These purple czech-made "Prosser" beads were strung and traded in West Africa. Modeled after vintage "kakamba" beads, these beads each have a uniq...

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$14.00 - $14.00
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Amber Oval Patterned Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00

Amber Oval Patterned 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
Aja Style Sliced Teal Krobo Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$15.00 - $15.00
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$15.00

Aja Style Sliced Teal Krobo Beads (14mm)

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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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
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Triangle Leaf Brass Filigree Beads (8x20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$22.50 - $22.50
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$22.50

Triangle Leaf Brass Filigree Beads (8x20mm)

Out of stock

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

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$22.50 - $22.50
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Vintage Yellow Ghana Disk Sandcast Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.00

Vintage Yellow Ghana Disk Sandcast Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

These vintage beads were made using a traditional powder glass method in West Africa. Older than their newer renditions, these yellow disk beads we...

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$12.00 - $12.00
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Jumbo Sapphire Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
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$35.00 - $35.00
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$35.00

Jumbo Sapphire Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Out of stock

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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$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
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Jumbo Chevron Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
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$18.50
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$18.50
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Jumbo Chevron 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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$18.50
$18.50 - $18.50
$18.50
$16.00
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$16.00
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Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (5mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.00 - $9.00
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$9.00

Yellow Vinyl Phono Record Beads (5mm)

Out of stock

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
$9.00
$9.00 - $9.00
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Vintage Mixed Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00

Vintage Mixed Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm)

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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$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
$18.00
$18.00 - $18.00
$18.00
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Yellow Prosser Button Beads (8mm) (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00

Yellow 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
$33.00
$33.00
$33.00 - $33.00
$33.00
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Light Blue Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Jumbo Light Blue Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

Only 10 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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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
Matte African Clay Heishi Beads - The Bead Chest
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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00

Matte African Clay Heishi Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this nice strand of heishi-shaped clay beads from West Africa. Each bead is in the shape of a flat round disk and measures approxima...

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$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
$16.00
$16.00 - $16.00
$16.00
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Multicolor Recycled Glass Beads (25mm) - The Bead Chest
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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00

Multicolor Recycled Glass Beads (25mm)

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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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$35.00
$35.00 - $35.00
$35.00
Sold out
Rustic Opaque White Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Rustic Opaque White Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

Out of stock

These handmade Sandcast beads have been fashioned in an ancient and time-honored tradition. Powdered glass beads such as these are made by crushing...

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