Contemporary Trends of the Bead Jewelry Industry in Ghana: A Case Study of the Krobo.

Abstract

This Krobo case study traces the history and looks into current trends in Ghana's bead industry in the jewelry sector and the reasons for the renewed interest in the usage of bead jewelry. It traces the historical and contemporary trends of the Krobo bead jewelry industry as well as the causes of the sudden renewed interest and enthusiasm for bead production and usage among the people of Ghana by studying responses from 20 select participants using a qualitative research approach. Exposure to the Western world, bead jewelry in schools, the introduction of new equipment and technology, and current fashion among men and women are all factors that contribute to modern trends and renewed interest in Ghana's bead jewelry industry. Furthermore, various foreign beads are becoming more widely available in Ghana, overtaking locally produced Krobo beads. As a result of the increased demand for assorted beads, measures are needed to prevent indigenous beads from disappearing from culture.