African Glass Beads

The beads are often called "Krobo" beads because they are primarily made in the Krobo region of Ghana's Eastern Region. They are a significant part of Krobo people’s culture. The origins of beadmaking in Ghana have been used in the area for thousands of years. Beadmaking has been documented in Ghana as early as 1746, and Krobo beadmaking has been documented since the 1920s.

Today, the Krobo and Ashanti people of Ghana make most of the country's powder glass beads. The process for making these beads involves grinding glass bottles and other glass items into a powder, then layering the powder in vertical clay molds to create designs. The molds are then fired in clay kilns at high temperatures until the glass fuses. After cooling, the beads are often decorated with dyes or paints, then washed and strung.

Krobo beads are used in many ceremonies in Krobo culture, including birth, coming of age, marriage, and death, and are also displayed in festivals and parades.