Shelby Earrings

African recycled glass beads are made by members of the Krobo Tribe which is located in Ghana, Africa. These African beads are created by compressing glass into a dry grain, and heating the grain so that the pieces form together. The recycled glass is rushed into a porcelain cast. The stem of a cassava leaf is used to make the hole. It is baked in a furnace causing the glass to melt together and cassava stem to burn. This technique has been used in Africa for centuries to make recycled glass beads
The bead plays an important role in the cultural life of the African people. It is a tradition handed down by the forefathers who cherished and valued the bead – both as a symbol of wealth and as a trade item.