Beading Along With The Skill Of Bead Work And Its Importance In Historic Africa
The ancient Egyptians used beads and charms around 2200 BC to achieve decoration, beauty, fashion and vanity. Early Egyptian jewelry beads have been created out of clay, stone, ivory, bone, faience, glass, bronze, copper, silver and wood. These types of beads developed into an item used for trade by the Egyptians primarily with the nations of Kush and Nubia.

The usage of beads as jewelry beads remained a tradition in many different nations of Africa. Originally their beads were made of wood, shells, clay, stone or grass seeds. These beads were used for necklaces, bracelets or anklets. The beads have been also used on blankets as well as other kinds of garments. Near the fifteenth century, glass beads had been introduced by Europeans. Because the glass beads were in many different colors, they were utilized for elaborate bead work for the very wealthy in southern Africa. Kings in countries such as Ghana, Mali and Nigeria wore elegant garb so greatly beaded that attendants would help them to move about in carrying out their duties.

Beadwork was also made to clearly define societal status between women. Certain designs worn by women would define young girls from elder women in specific tribes. Bead work would show if girls were engaged and to be wed. Specific bead work also was applied to accentuate brides and those women who had recently given birth to their first child.

In today's Africa, beads are still used and held in high respect. In East Africa beads are made of ostrich eggshells that are prevalent around the Kalahari Desert. In West Africa beads are made of gold and these are called soul money and they are used for different ceremonies of child naming, adolescence rites in addition to funerals. Another popular substance for beads can be glass. Bottle glass is melted and recycled into various colors and patterns. These beads are irregular and signify a sense of luxury to the person.

In North Africa the Berber tribal women make large quantities of colorful beads. The beads serve as a family asset. When the family earnings are poor then the beads are sold. The value of the bead is established on the weight. Bead materials include amber, coral, amazonite, silver and glass. The various types of beads convey various connotations. Amber protects against illnesses while coral and silver are good luck charms.

All through Africa artists continue the age old tradition of creating wonderful beads.

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