African Beads

We adopted our African American daughter at birth and I've come to really enjoy doing her hair. I'm white and my husband is Philipino. She is 3 years old now. Her hair is naturally very dry and brittle.

Usually, I section it into 2" squares with rubber bands, then twist the length, and fishish with a few beads on the ends. I wash it about every two weeks with baby shampoo with detangler followed by baby conditioner with detangler. I've been using leave-in conditioners and moisturizers made by Beautiful Beginnings and Just For Me.

I'm wondering about frequency of washing and what shampoos and conditioners to use. Also, what moisturizers are best. We are vegetarians and very concerned about using natural or organic products, preferably that have not been tested on animals, and that don't have tons of weird chemicals.

Thanks for your advice.

I would find a stylist who specializes in ethnic hair and ask their opinion. If you see good hair on a stranger- ask them who does their hair. Ethnic hair needs special care and treatment. When she is old enough, do her a favor and get her hair relaxed professionally.

Ethnic Accessories available to buy online at www.AnkaraHotspot.com

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I've read that in the West African country of Togo, the highly-decorated local beads are only ever worn at the waist, to hold up a loincloth or skirt. And that for an outsider to wear them round their neck would make them a laughing stock. Is this true? And are there any other similar instances in African countries where an outsider should be careful about wearing local beads.

Normally Africans find it funny or an insult for outsiders to wear traditional clothing.

try urbanoutfitters.
something like this?:
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp;jsessionid=55B8D3CA149CE6A39378078B2710ECC5.app13-node5?itemdescription=true&itemCount=60&id=14345144&parentid=W_ACC_JEWELRY&sortProperties=+product.marketingPriority,-product.startDate&navCount=252&navAction=poppushpush&color=

Charles Ahovissi
African Culture Connection Founder
Charles is a professional dancer, drummer, performer, choreographer, stage costume designer, and tailor from Benin, West Africa. Since 1986, Charles has toured the world as a member of the Ballet National of Benin, performing and teaching traditional African dance and drumming. Now residing in Omaha, Charles wants to share his knowledge and love of Africa through traditional dancing and drumming to foster better understanding of Africa’s diverse and beautiful cultures. Through dancing and drumming during public performances, school emblies, residencies, and workshops, Charles promotes unity and multiculturalism while offering students a fun, social and physical activity. Charles provides multicultural lessons by giving students authentic, hands-on experiences with African culture. He creates an authentic African village ambiance in your school and uses ceremonial African clothes as well as traditional instruments to teach about African culture. Charles incorporates a variety of activities into his educational programs depending on the length. Creating African crafts such as masks, necklaces, shakers, headbands, and ankle bells can also be incorporated into the residency. Charles currently teaches African dance and music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha every Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9-11 a.m. in the H.P.E.R. Building, Room 231. There is a $10 drop in fee and public is welcome to attend.
Charles is the contact person for Africam Culture Connections. To arrange for your presentation or to get more information, please contact Charles by phone at (402) 238-8259 or through our website.

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beadforlife.org
This is a website where you can purchase beaded jewelry made by African women in Uganda. They make there livings by rolling beads and making them into jewelry. They are strong and couragous women. Girls go to their website and check it out. If everyon went their and bought a bracelet for $5 there villages would never go hungry, the kids could go to school, and they could by medicine & supplies. Please, please check it out and buy a bracelet or two. They have lots of beautiful things to purchase. All of the proceeds go back to these women and their families/villages. Instead of wasting your money on something that has no value help out these people, who make these products every single day, just to support themselves, and their families.

Give your support to an African woman today!

*pass along to everyone you know*

I will definitely purchase something from them as my daughter loves to do things like that. I will pass this on to all I know. Thanks for the information.

It is really heavy and colorful.
I only think it looks good with my blackknit tank dress and sandals.

OOOOOO! your from brooklyn new york too! ME2 !

anyway. you can wear it with black cuz black goes with evrything.

I'm researching for a school project on the slave trade, and I need to know approximately how much a European buyer would pay an African slave trader (in trade beads preferably, or guns) to buy a child for the transatlantic slave trade and resale in Jamaica.

If you don't know the price in beads, though, the price in dollars would be great too.

Thanks.
The African leaders were apparently paid in more substantial European goods than beads.

Carolina planters developed a vision of the "ideal" slave – tall, healthy, male, between the ages of 14 and 18, "free of blemishes," and as dark as possible. For these ideal slaves Carolina planters in the eighteenth century paid, on average, between ?100 and ?200 sterling – in today's money that is between $11,630 and $23,200!

Yvonne Taylor shows you step-by-step how to wear magnetic jewelry as a bracelet, necklace, or a headpiece!

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Can I make beads with the organic product sold as copal resin? Is there another ingredient added to the resin to make it harder and produce copal beads (like those from the African trade)?
Are there different qualities of copal?

Copal is resin that's hardened, but not hard enough to be called amber. Depends on the variety, some are hard enough to be made into beads, while others are grinded and use a acrylic or polymer binder to bind them together.