How Authentic Krobo Glass Beads Are Handcrafted in Ghana

In the hills of the Krobo region in Eastern Ghana, bead making is an ancient craft passed down through centuries. The process begins with collecting and crushing recycled glass bottles into fine powder or granular shards.

Using clay molds hand-sculpted from indigenous earth, bead artisans insert cassava leaf stems into the center of each cavity to create the bead hole. The molds are placed into open-flame clay kilns heated with firewood to over 800 degrees Celsius.

As the glass melts, the cassava stems burn away cleanly, leaving a pristine center perforation. Once cooled, each bead is meticulously hand-painted with natural mineral pigments before a final glossing treatment.