Blog posts tagged with 'beads'

As we noted in our two previous posts, beads carry great significance in Ghanaian culture — marking key moments in your journey through life. What’s more, they can signify your status within society. 

A priest, for instance, would wear beads made of organic materials like bone, cowrie shell, or elephant teeth. A queen mother would wear white beads, symbolizing purity, as well as silver and blue beads, aligning her with the moon. A chief would wear bronze beads, plated with gold, and complementary yellow beads. According to our friends at SUN TRADE BEADS in Accra, these glowing colors represent “fire under control.”

Not surprisingly, beads marking the end of life are especially meaningful. At funerals, mourners usually wear black and white beads to express their grief — but they might also wear red, to show their rage at the loss of a loved one. Beads of creamy red-brown bauxite, exclusive to Ghana, indicate an extremely profound loss.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our discussion of beads and their significance for the people of Ghana. Whenever you wear beaded jewelry, think of the ways different colors and styles can express something about your own journey through life.

In our last post, we noted the significance that people in Ghana attribute to beads. As we saw, beads can celebrate and commemorate your birth. Here’s how they reflect the later stages of your journey through life:

Waist beads represent an intimate adornment once you reach adulthood. To quote our friends at SUN TRADE BEADS in Accra, “they should be worn discreetly and not be seen by just anyone.” Beads worn around the wrist, however, can show status and express identity — for everyone to see.

Beads can also designate major landmarks in your journey, such as overcoming an obstacle, surviving an accident, or even giving birth. To make these moments tangible, you might opt for white beads or disk-shaped beads.

In our next post, we’ll talk more about the way beads can communicate social status — and mark the end of life. Be sure to join us!

In Ghana, beads are more than beautiful objects; they are symbols with specific meanings for each person. To quote our friends at Sun Trade Beads in Accra, they help “narrate your life from birth to death.” At the start of your journey, for instance, beads tell your story in the following ways:

One week after your birth, you’ll have a naming ceremony, and you’ll receive a small string of beads. These may be blue or another color, chosen by your grandmother. 

If you’re a twin, you’ll get a special set of beads to reflect your special status. These beads represent seed and bone, and they’re usually made of glass, in a combination of black and white or brown and white.

As you grow, your beads will be carefully restrung — continuing your story into the next phase of life. In our next post, we’ll explore that pivotal phase, so be sure to join us again!