African beadwork is a rich, symbolic language used for adornment, status, and communication, deeply embedded in ceremonial life to mark rites of passage (birth, marriage, warriorhood), express identity (age, marital status, wealth), and connect with the spiritual, with colors and patterns telling personal or communal stories, particularly among groups like the Maasai, Ndebele, and Samburu. Beads signify love, protection, fertility, and celebration, transforming simple decoration into a powerful cultural narrative.
