From the Krobo people come Krobo powder glass beads. Krobo beads are known worldwide and have become more mainstream in popular fashion and culture. Krobo beads are made from layers of powdered glass mixed with dyes which are then poured into molds. When the beads cool, they are hand-painted with unique designs.
Recycled glass beads
When it comes to taking care of our planet and reducing our carbon footprint, Ghana is doing its part and making beautiful glass beads as a result. Glass beads also known as bottle glass beads, are made from recycled bottles which Ghanaian artisans smash, heat and then polish into beautiful beads.
Brass beads
In old Ashanti Kingdom lives an ancient way of making beads called “lost wax”. Different from other techniques of bead making, this process is created in a mold made from beeswax which is then covered in clay. The clay covered beeswax mold is heated and then cooled. The rapid cooling process causes the beads to crack and break in certain places creating a unique design for each bead.
Chevron beads
The most modernized and expensive of the beads would be the Chevron bead, which has been dated to the 14th century. Chevrons are easily identified by 4-7 layers of colored glass which are then fused with different glass canes into special star molds. These beads were highly tradable, typically used as currency in different regions of Africa in exchange for favors, spices and slaves.
