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Throughout human history, there have been significant movements of peoples within, into, and out of Africa, occurring along its northern coasts, across the Sinai Peninsula, along the Red Sea, and notably in the Horn of Africa. At Africa Direct, our collection of masks, carvings, textiles, and beads showcase the mastery and originality of these extensive groups. .....

Unveiling the Gelede Mask: A Window into Yoruba Culture discusses the incredible Gelede mask and the enriching history that they hold. Gelede masks are known to show motifs of life, death, and everything in between to tell a story.

European Trade Beads have a rich and storied history that spans centuries. These small, colorful beads have played a significant role in trade and cultural exchange between Europe and other parts of the world. In this blog post, we will explore the origins, significance, and enduring appeal of European Trade Beads.

Life in Nairobi, Kenya is arduous. Nearly one third of the residents of this metropolis live in one of several slums which receive limited electricity, have no running water and other restrained services. Existence within one of these slums is even direr; disease is rampant and malnutrition is normal. For girls growing up in the Kibera slum, day to day life borders on hopeless because only about 8% of them ever get the chance to attend school.

A delightful trader arrived with a truck brimming with one-of-a-kind goods, handpicked by Elizabeth for our store. Among the treasures are top-notch Asafo flags, a rarity we've been longing for. Our collection also boasts an array of wooden bowls, throwing knives, trade beads, and textiles, including exquisite white mudcloths and striking indigo fabrics.

Venetian Chevron beads are the most beautiful, recognizable and collectable of all of the Venetian "Trade Beads".

Chevrons beads are made by a multi-part process.  They start with the making of the cane,  then another color glass is added and then this is usually put into a 12 point  star mold.

Millefiori is an Italian word meaning " a thousand flowers".  Millefiori beads are also known as "mosiac" beads throughout the world.  The making of millefiori beads is a two step process.  First the murrine or cane is made and then these are applied to a molten wound glass core and made into beads. 

The term "Kiffa" bead is a relatively new name that was created during the 1980s by US bead collectors because many of these beads were being made in and around the Mauritanian town of Kiffa.  The beads are made from finely crushed glass and a binder, often saliva, and they are fired without the use of molds.  For their wearers, these unique Mauritanian powder glass beads had amuletic properties, their colours and the many different, intricate decorative patterns all having specific meanings.

For African communities, African art and trade beads are used as a way of conveying these sentiments, while also serving as a way to express entertainment, political values and ideological views. This is what makes African art and trade beads so special. Each piece of African art is unique and holds a world of history and cultural significance. That is why, today African art has become highly collectible throughout the world.

The Bamileke are an enormous culture, part of the so-called "Grasslands" group, who are spread widely over large parts of western Cameroon. Though there are many smaller groups, the Bamileke, Bamun, and Bamenda-Tikar are dominant.