TRADITIONAL AFRICAN JEWELRY

Jewelry, like other elements of African culture, has huge influence among many African communities. Though it is primarily used as a form of adornment, jewelry can be used to serve a host of other purposes depending on their components and value. For instance, in the past, jewelry was used as currency for barter trade or as tokens for religious activities.

In Africa, traditional jewelry plays a critical role in cultural identity. The distinct characteristics of a piece of authentic traditional African jewelry can reveal a lot about the nature of its tribe, culture and what parts of Africa it originates from. But no matter what differences may exist, there are common traits that underline all kinds of traditional jewelry across the African continent. Some typical similarities may include the handmade attributes of traditional African jewelry. They are generally made by master craftsmen and women who employ a set of unique, handmade and often labor-intensive techniques in the production process. African jewelry can be made from a variety of items including metals, plants, bones, fabric, plastics, glass, shells, clay, yarn, leather, fiber, stones, etc. The craftsmanship involved in their creation is something that is passed down from one generation to another in families within the local communities. As African jewelry continues to gain popularity however, the craft of jewelry-making also continues to grow steadily as demand for it rises.

In this post, we put a spotlight on some famous versions of traditional African jewelry from Ghana and other parts of Africa.

 

A significant number of African cultures use beads in their traditional jewelry. However, in Ghana, the most popular kinds of beads used in traditional jewelry are the "Krobo" and "Ashanti" beads. These are powdered glass beads handmade by artisans using pulverized recycled glass that are molded and fired in clay kilns. (The Krobo and Ashanti are two of the various tribes in Ghana.)

The beads are hand-painted with colorful dyes and dried. They are then sent to the local markets and sold in strands or made into finished jewelry for sale.

The Ashantis are also well known for their brass beads and Adinkra symbols. These brass beads and pendants are are made with bees wax molds using a casting technique called "lost wax".

Today, the largest manufacturing sites for Krobo and Ashanti beads are found in the mountain regions of the Krobo traditional area and their immediate surroundings. Located in the Eastern region of Ghana, these areas also boast of some of the best bead markets in West Africa.

Coral beads are another popular type of beads from Africa. These are tubular red or orange beads used in making traditional jewelry that can mostly be found in Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Bone beads can be found in several African countries but are predominantly made in Kenya and South Africa. Seed beads come in a variety of styles and patterns and can be found in many countries across the continent.

There are so many other kinds of African beads that we can talk about. Beads are essentially an important staple in African culture so they deserve their own special highlight whenever we talk about traditional African jewelry.

 

Traditional ceremonies in Africa are major opportunities for celebrating the various ethnic groups and their cultures. One of the most important traditional ceremonies that  Africans heavily celebrate are marriage ceremonies. Though their primary purpose is to witness the unity of two families, these ceremonies provide great opportunities for cultural display in a light-hearted and fun manner.

Traditional marriages in Africa are lavish and regal in their approach. African brides and grooms dress like royalty on their special day and are showered with gifts by family, friends and attendees of their event. The array of colors, patterns and prints present at these ceremonies are simply a wonderful sight to behold.

In Ghana, traditional jewelry is one of the uniquely unmistakable elements of cultural display at marriage ceremonies. They take center stage often coming in a close second to none other than the Kente cloth. The bridal jewelry is the most magnificent in extravagance with their high-quality handmade beads, adinkra symbols, brass and gold accents. The traditional jewelry you find at Ghanaian marriage ceremonies are used to convey messages of love, blessings, health, wealth and goodwill, etc. upon the couple. A quick google search of "Ghana weddings" will reveal some of the most breathtaking images of cultural display you have ever seen.

Most traditional African jewelry are as valuable as they are meaningful. They tell the stories of the ethnic people and they are a source of pride for the celebration of cultural identity and heritage.