No matter where in you find yourself in Africa, you will always find some connection between the local culture and beadwork. Take the ancient city of Mapungubwe as an example. Excavations of the Mapungubwe ruins, after being discovered in 1932, led to the discovery of gold and glass beads that were crafted by the Mapungubwe residents almost 1 000 years ago! (ca. 1050–1270) Let’s have a look at 3 African craftworks where the use of beads has a strong cultural and/or spiritual significance and symbolic uses with a deeper meaning:   Yoruba beaded headdress/crown from Nigeria The very elaborately beaded...