Contemplating African culture, we cannot overlook the profound significance of beadwork, a tradition dating back millennia. From ancient relics to contemporaryartistry, beads have served as more than mere adornments; they are symbols of status, belonging and cultural heritage.

The beads we’ve come to know today are developments from past artefacts and treasures, used as one of the first means of bodily adornment. Africa’s traditional use of beads incorporated bones, wood, shells and many other ornaments that would be pierced and strung together, attached to an object or worn on the body as a means of beautifying.

While the use of beads dates back over 75,000 years like the marine shells uncovered by archaeologists in the South African Blombos cave, it wasn’t until glass beads were introduced that they became a medium for trade across the continents.

“The intrinsic desirability of the bead – as well as the ease with which a relatively large quantity could be transported as cargo – made them an essential item of trade,” reports The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

However, the symbolisms in the continental use of such ornaments go far deeper than the monetary value. True to form with many ritualistic symbolisms in the country, beads were no exception.

(read the full story in issue 07)