Beads in Ghana
Its possible to buy a huge variety of beads in Ghana both old and new and during my trip to the contry in 2005 I visited 3 busy markets to buy beads to use in my jewellery.
These beads arrived in Ghana via 3 separate routes
a. Brought in along the trans-Saharan routes.Types of beads include Indian Islamic, Egyptian, Chinese and Roman. Stone beads from Mali and Kiffa Beads from Mauritania came along these routes.
b. Originating in Ghana - evidence of bead production from 2000B.C.Later excavations found shell, stone and glass beads from 1600 A.D.Bauxite mined locally was used to make beads and these can be bought in most markets today.Glass bead making seems to have begun around 700AD in Begho in Northern Ghana.
c. Brought in by Europeans to trade for slaves, gold and spices.These beads were made in Venice, Bohemia Germany and Holland .
Who wears the beads?
Beads are worn during the important ceremonies including Dipo, a girl's coming of age.The young teenage girl wears huge amounts of beads around the neck, waist and limbs while performing the Dipo dances.
At weddings the bride will wear beads paid for by her husband. Her waist beads will be worn permantly for the rest of her life.Beads are worn by the chiefs at all times.
