Bovine Trade Beads Kenya

Bovine beads, crafted from animal materials, served as trade currency across Africa, intricately fashioned by skilled artisans in a labor-intensive process. These small, polished beads, often embellished with elaborate designs, held immense value, symbolizing wealth and status as worn adornments around necks, wrists, and ankles. Crucial in trade transactions, including the transatlantic slave trade, they exchanged hands for various goods before being utilized as currency for enslaved individuals. Presently, these bone beads persist in African cultures, continuing their dual role as both currency and decorative elements, sought after by collectors and available in markets and souvenir shops across the continent, encapsulating a rich history of exchange and craftsmanship.

Photo is an example. Yours will be similar. You are purchasing one.

This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the string holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.

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