Silver Birds Travel: Beads: The second currency of South Africa

Several centuries ago when the regions of Africa were being explored by traders they brought with them trade beads which were also called slave beads. The beads were used as currency to buy goods, services and slaves. The beads originated in Europe primarily from Venice. Tons of these beads were made and they were transported as ballast on the ships bound for Africa. As well as being traded for human cargo (slaves) they were also used to acquire ivory, gold and other goods.

Africans put a high value on beads and they were not only used for decorative purposes but used as a means of accumulating wealth becoming a much sought after form of currency.

Today hundreds of years later beads are still playing a valuable role in African life by creating an income for thousands of African’s.

Beads are not only sought after for traditional purposes to make adornments for tribal ceremonies but are also cleverly being incorporated into sculptures and items of adornment attractive to today’s tourist to Africa.

In years gone by a curio from Africa was all too often a carved piece of wood or serpentine but over the last decade or so beaded items have surpassed these items as the most popular take home souvenir.

In true African creativity the art of beaded wire sculpture has advanced to such a stage that large icons are now being produced with beads and wire.

A life size statue of the late Nelson Mandela and a life sized elephant promoting a popular South African liqueur being only two items that have now gone above and beyond the table top size sculpture.

Endangered animals like the rhino and sable antelope have made their appearance as accurate reproductions of these animals. It seems as if there is no limit to the level of accuracy that these bead artists can achieve with wire and beads.

Travelling thousands of kilometres around South Africa we encountered tens of thousands of items for sale on the open air markets, there was no end to the kaleidoscope of items available.

Most of the artists man their own stands in the informal markets and they can all be seen twisting and turning wire in calloused fingers to create the shapes of the array of items. They do not work with specialised tools only using a pair of wire cutters to assist them in their craft.

In the cities many of the African craft shops commission the manufacture of specific items which in turn guarantees some of these artists a steady source of income.

The informal open air markets though provide a more rewarding experience for shoppers as the artists enjoy the interaction with tourists and they will proudly demonstrate how their art is produced.

Beads have enjoyed a long history in Africa and once used by unscrupulous foreign traders as currency have now been turned into a new and valuable currency for many African’s and in their turn created a viable business opportunity for many South African families.