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Beads: An Element Of Regalia, Elizabeth Shonsey

African Diaspora ISPs

The use of beads as body adornment has served as a strong non-verbal communicative device within Ghanaian culture. Decorating oneself with beads can depict a person's mood, project a period in life one is going through, and display the social status of the individual. This study focuses on the significance beads have in portraying the prestige, inheritance and duty of responsibility of traditional figures of authority. The research was concentrated on the chiefs and queen mothers of the Ewe cultural group and their particular usage of beads as an item of royal regalia. Behind the beautiful, aesthetic expression of bead …