Old Akosu Yellow Trade Beads Ghana 42inch

Highly valued and increasingly scarce, Akosu (also spelled Akoso) beads are among the most prestigious traditional glass beads of West Africa. Originating in Ghana and associated with the Ewe and Krobo peoples, these beads were symbols of wealth, status, and authority—often reserved for royalty and important ceremonial use. 

Handmade using a labor-intensive powdered glass technique, recycled glass was ground into a fine powder, packed into clay molds, and fired in small kilns. Many examples reveal embedded fragments of older Venetian trade beads, adding to their layered history and visual complexity.

Akosu beads are typically recognized by their distinctive shapes—elongated or biconical—and their striking surface decoration. Most feature a yellow base adorned with crossed “U” or loop motifs, stripes, or eye-like patterns in contrasting colors such as blue, black, green, and pink.

Dating primarily to the late 1800s–early 1900s, these beads played an important role in regional trade and were sometimes used as a form of currency as well as personal adornment. Today, authentic old examples are no longer produced and are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

Each bead carries visible signs of age—wear, pitting, and surface weathering—testament to its history and use over generations.

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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