Interesting Facts About African Trade Beads

By Catherine Murray


It is always great when you buy something that you can wear every single day and show off to all the people you pass by. It is so often the case that people buy decorative items that fall to the wayside and never get used if you don't have an actual practical use for them. That is why it is great that most of the african trade beads that you can find are totally wearable and are a great way to accessorize.

Sometimes it is best to learn a little bit about the history of something before you buy it and start wearing it. That way, you can actually have a little bit of background knowledge and awareness of the culture you are representing. You wouldn't want to unintentionally represent something you really don't stand for or agree with, so looking into this type of thing can be very important.

Starting around the 16th century and going all the way up until the 20th century, many different people were using this type of thing as a sort of token currency. While it might not seem ideal to use a form of currency that isn't recognized universally, it was the preferred method of payment for all kinds of people for many different goods and services. The fact that they were decorative was definitely not the most important thing about them at that time, in the same way that we don't usually consider a quarter or a nickel pretty.

You can find all kinds of these beautiful items online these days. There are so many trusted sites that you can order from that it is hard to find a single reason not to look for things this way. Whether you just want to get a little bit of background information on the subject or if you want to take care of all your shopping this way, you can certainly use the internet, and the great thing about it is you can do it from wherever you are most of the time.

This is something that makes a great gift if you are struggling to make sure that everyone is covered on your shopping list. It is an easy and versatile gift that comes in many different sizes and styles. That way, you can get something that actually matches the personality of the person you're getting it for.

You might consider seeing if your friends have any of these types of beads. If so, it is sometimes fun to swap with these friends of yours so that you can both have something new to wear. When it is someone that you trust, you won't have to worry about getting yours back.

If you have never worn waist beads, it might be interesting to try. They are said to enhance sensuality, and they can also be worn as a traditional rite of passage. This waistband is mainly worn underneath the clothing.

If you're very artistic, you might think about designing your own jewelry out of these. You might be surprised by how well they sell. If you enjoy going to festivals, that would be a great time to start up your business.




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