ceramic

By Ila Suleyman, this colorful necklace is a triumph of African design. He names it Kolpoka, a river goddess of the Mamprusi kingdom. Ceramic mingles with beads of sese wood and batik on bone, while the colorful disks are recycled plastic. The central pendant is carved from bone.

Ila Suleyman calls the original design of this necklace Sougri, the Mamprusi term for patience. He diligently crafts the necklace by hand with ornate terracotta beads and sleek sese wood. A cow bone pendant centers the extraordinary necklace, which closes with a brass clasp.

The Mamprusi people refer to a newlywed woman as Amaria, and in her honor Ila Suleyman designs a necklace of stunning elegance. He crafts the necklace by hand with cow bone pendants painted with classic batik techniques, flanked by terracotta beads and sese wood. They center a strand of beads recycled from different plastic sources. Closes with a brass clasp.

Incised with abstract motifs, a terracotta bead centres this design by Rita Addo Zakour. She alternates frosty globes of recycled glass with beads of bone batik. A black leather cord completes the handcrafted necklace.

"I crafted this necklace to bless you with good health," declares Ila Suleyman. From his "Laafi" collection meaning "good health" in the Mamprusi language, the necklace is centered by a cow bone pendant escorted by terracotta and sese wood beads. Yellow beads recycled from plastic bottles and vinyl discs are diligently threaded by hand for a necklace that fastens with a brass hook.

"I crafted this necklace to bless you with good health," declares Ila Suleyman. From his "Laafi" collection meaning "good health" in the Mamprusi language, the necklace is centered by a cow bone pendant escorted by terracotta and sese wood beads. Pink beads recycled from plastic bottles and vinyl discs are diligently threaded by hand for a necklace that fastens with a brass hook.

"I crafted this necklace to bless you with good health," declares Ila Suleyman. From his "Laafi" collection meaning "good health" in the Mamprusi language, the necklace is centered by a cow bone pendant escorted by terracotta and sese wood beads. Green beads recycled from plastic bottles and vinyl discs are diligently threaded by hand for a necklace that fastens with a brass hook.

"Enjoy this beautiful necklace and may your good deeds be more in number than the beads strung on this necklace," encourages Ila Suleyman. He calls his design Maneray, the Mossi term for good deeds. The Mossi are predominantly millet and cattle farmers who use cow hide and other natural materials to create various items including jewelry and accessories. Suleyman crafts the necklace by hand in a palette of warm earth hues featuring glistening agates, terracotta and sese wood beads. A bone pendant painted with batik techniques centers the necklace featuring recycled plastic beads at both sides. Closes with a brass clasp.