6 Facts About Kenyan Beadwork

1: Beadwork tell the stories of Kenya’s communities

Most Kenyan communites are renowned for their bead ornaments. Nearly every community in Kenya wore some kind of beadwork, although the patterns, colours and the types of the beads depended on specific socio-cultural contexts.

2: Some of the most common beads in Kenya are made of glass

They were imported from Europe in the 19th century. Long distance traders, like the Kamba, acquired the beads from the coastal regions of East Africa and traded them with communities in the interior of the country.

Before the coming of glass beads, people used local materials such as ostrich egg-shells, sea shells, cowry shells, seeds, wooden or stone materials, bones and ivory, animal hooves, leather and skins, baked clay and precious metals, such as gold and silver.

3: They are made by all communities across Kenya

Beadwork was predominantly a female activity in Kenya and most parts of eastern Africa.

4: Bead ornaments had various functions, with the most common being the aesthetic or ‘beauty’ value

Communities all over Kenya made their bead patterns based on their specific cultural notions of what they perceived as beautiful or ugly, acceptable or unacceptable, good or bad.

The Maa were guided by the principle of kemakua (acceptable) and kenare (unacceptable) when deciding how beads should be arranged to make a given, culturally defined pattern.

5: Different communities wear beads in their own way

Not all beadwork was worn around the neck; others were worn as bracelets, on the head as adornments, on the waist or legs. Beadwork, in other cases, also incorporated charms for personal protection. Beads were also used to decorate various clothing and utilitarian items.

6: Modern Kenyan ornaments are bought by tourists

In modern times, bead ornaments are part of the vibrant tourist trade.

The modern beadwork is devoid of the cultural meanings that they had in their original cultural contexts. These beaded items are now commodities that are sold mostly for their aesthetics.