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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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Grey Eye Round Krobo Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00

Grey Eye 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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$12.00 - $12.00
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$12.00 - $12.00
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Dark Blue Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8-12mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$35.00 - $35.00
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Dark Blue Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (8-12mm)

Out of stock

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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$35.00 - $35.00
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Purple Recycled Glass Beads (Medium) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$14.50 - $14.50
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$14.50 - $14.50
$14.50

Purple Recycled Glass Beads (Medium)

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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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$14.50 - $14.50
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Crimson Red Star Snake Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$39.00 - $39.00
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Crimson Red Star Snake Beads

Out of stock

These pressed Czech glass beads are known by a number of names including Star Beads and Snake Beads due to their resemblance to the vertebrae of a ...

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$39.00 - $39.00
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Awalleh Style Sliced Brown Krobo Beads (9mm) - The Bead Chest
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$14.00 - $14.00
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$14.00

Awalleh Style Sliced Brown 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
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Assorted Black & White Antique Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$245.00 - $245.00
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$245.00 - $245.00
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Assorted Black & White 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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Crimson Red Patterned Terracotta Beads - The Bead Chest
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$30.00 - $30.00
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Crimson Red Patterned Terracotta Beads

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

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$9.00 - $9.00
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Red White Heart Beads (4mm)

in stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent red white hearts! The strand measures approximately 24-26", with beads measuring about 4-5mm in dia...

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$9.00 - $9.00
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White & Pink Flower Millefiori Beads - The Bead Chest
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$22.00 - $22.00
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White & Pink Flower Millefiori Beads

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You are looking at a beautiful strand of cameo white and gold round Millefiori beads. These exquisite beads would make a great addition to any jewe...

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$22.00 - $22.00
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Pumpkin Orange Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
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$16.50 - $16.50
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Pumpkin Orange Fused Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

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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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$16.50 - $16.50
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Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm) - The Bead Chest
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$26.00 - $26.00
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Brass Filigree Globe Beads (20mm)

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Take a look at these beautiful Brass "Globe" trade beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. Th...

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$26.00 - $26.00
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Midnight Blue Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
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$179.00 - $179.00
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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Midnight Blue Antique 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
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$179.00 - $179.00
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Antique Glass Ghana Chevron Beads (3 Strands) - The Bead Chest
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Antique Glass Ghana Chevron Beads (3 Strands)

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Checkout this nice set of Glass Ghana Chevrons Beads. This is a unique bunch of beads with many different colors in a single set. The shape and des...

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$35.00 - $35.00
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Red Ghana Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.25 - $9.25
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Red Ghana Glass Beads (7mm)

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

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$9.25 - $9.25
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Black Giraffe Krobo Powder Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
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$14.00

Black Giraffe Krobo Powder Glass Beads

in stock

A beautiful strand of powder glass African beads, made by the people of Krobo Mountain in Ghana, West Africa. Made from bottles and other glass ite...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sky Blue White Heart Beads (4mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50

Sky Blue White Heart Beads (4mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of translucent sky-blue white hearts! The strand measures approximately 25", with beads measuring about 3-4 mm in ...

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$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
$12.50
$12.50 - $12.50
$12.50
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Amber Recycled Glass Beads (7mm) - The Bead Chest
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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00
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$9.00 - $9.00
$9.00

Amber Recycled Glass Beads (7mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful strand of root beer brown recycled glass beads. These beads are unusually small, in a hard-to-find 7mm size. Great fo...

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$9.00 - $9.00
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Amber & Black Ghana Chevron Beads (Small) - The Bead Chest
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$9.80 - $9.80
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$9.80
$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80

Amber & Black Ghana Chevron Beads (Small)

Out of stock

Checkout this nice strand of Glass Chevrons from Ghana, Africa. The strand measures 24" in length, with beads measuring approximately 4-6 mm in dia...

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$9.80 - $9.80
$9.80
$9.80
$9.80 - $9.80
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Multicolor Sandcast Cylinder Beads - The Bead Chest
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Multicolor Sandcast Cylinder Beads

in stock

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. P...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Medium Vintage Christmas Beads (Ashanti Medley) - The Bead Chest
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$6.25 - $6.25
$6.25
$6.25
$6.25 - $6.25
$6.25

Medium Vintage Christmas Beads (Ashanti 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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$6.25 - $6.25
$6.25
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$6.25 - $6.25
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Flower Krobo Powder Glass Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
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$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00

Flower 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
$15.00 - $15.00
$15.00
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Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Red French Cross) - The Bead Chest
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$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00

Jumbo Painted Krobo Glass Beads (Red French Cross)

Out of stock

Admire these unique and unusually large painted glass beads made by artisans from the Krobo tribe in Ghana. These special beads work great as focal...

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$34.50
$34.50 - $34.50
$34.50
$29.00
$29.00 - $29.00
$29.00
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Granite Grey Kente Krobo Beads (9x11mm) - The Bead Chest
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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00

Granite Grey Kente Krobo Beads (9x11mm)

Out of stock

Ghana is known for its history of traditional bead-making. These beautiful powder glass beads are made by Krobo tribe people using centuries-old te...

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$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
$12.00
$12.00 - $12.00
$12.00
Sold out
Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Orange Mosaic Antique 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...

View full details
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out