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Article: Beads: a strong of success. (Ghana bead industry)(Special Report)
- Article from:
- African Business
- Article date:
- December 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 IC Publications Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Beads made in Europe were once used to trade for West African slaves. Today, beads from Africa have found a flourishing market not only in Europe but also in the US and Japan. LARA PAWSON, in Accra, draws a bead on this fascinating new industry.
The first durable ornaments ever possessed by human beings are thought to have been beads. Aside from the fact that they can be used to adorn the body, either as jewellery or sewn into clothes, beads embody the most important characteristics of any item worth collecting. Not only are they durable, easy to transport and wildly diverse, they are also extremely valuable from both a traditional and modern consumer context. From ...