A Rich History

Our jewelry collection consists of a variety of beaded pieces. Historically beads have been used in East Africa for centuries, for rituals, celebrations, ornaments, and jewelry. In the past, the women would gather together and create beautiful artifacts using beads, a tradition that is ongoing. However, it is common to see men as crafters and artisans creating beautiful pieces as well. Each handcrafted piece of jewelry has cultural significance and may represent strength, tradition, beauty, or marital status. When rites of passage ceremonies are performed, specific colored beads play an important role, and each color has a symbolic meaning. For example, when a young girl reaches puberty, she is given a gift from her parents with several colored beads. Black, red and white beads are symbolic of her body changes.

Today interest and desire for unique and handcrafted beaded pieces are highly sought after, and more people adorn themselves with one of a kind pieces.