Some Remarks on Beads and Trade in Lower Guinea in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

Two recent articles by Dr Mauny, inconclusive in themselves, since in the second he withdrew his earlier claim that the material of aggrey beads might be the coral-like marine growth Allopara subviolacea, inspired some independent inquiry into the question of aggrey beads. This inquiry followed three lines: (1) a re-examination of the published sources from the beginning of the sixteenth century into the nineteenth century; (2) local inquiries in Southern Ghana and, indirectly, in Western Nigeria; (3) an examination of actual beads, notably in collections in Ghana and in the British Museum. While a great deal more remains to be done, especially in following up the second and third lines of inquiry, some tentative observations may be of value, since it already appears possible to add something to the authoritative statements by Krieger and Naber on the subject.