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- Millicent Okine
Millicent Okine
"I come from the bustling city of Accra. We are a close knit family with a long tradition of bead making. I always loved to sit at the feet of my grandmother watching her fragile hands thread together the old heirloom family beads passed on for more than eight generations. <br><br>
"The heirlooms are the loose or strung beads which are threaded by whoever is responsible for them at any given time. Usually, when a female child is born into the family, grandmothers put together the heirloom beads to be used and later passed on to their daughters and granddaughters. <br><br>
"She always held the strands out to me when she was done, saying in the local Ga dialect, '<i>Enabe ba ni owo ne ma kwe,</i>' meaning 'my dear granddaughter ,come and try it on.' I was always a happy little girl when I tried on grandma's pieces. They were always beautifully made. <br><br>
"As life went on, I completed my O levels and started training as a teacher, but I wasn't able to finish due to unforeseen circumstances. For some time, I traded in consumer goods until, on one of my travels, I lost a huge sum. I only realized the loss on board the flight to my destination. I was totally distraught and frazzled. After this incident, it was difficult for me to get back to trading but, being the determined and hard worker that I am, I went on to do other things to survive and provide for my family. <br><br>
"As destiny would have it, one afternoon I met up with my brother in town and he was adorned with totally captivating bead jewelry and I just couldn't take my eyes off it - it reminded me so much of my dear grandmother. That was in 1994. I started designing and crafting bead accessories and have been at it ever since. Mostly, I work alone and employ helpers when it gets busy. <br><br>
"Occasionally, I participate in local fairs to sell my beads to individuals and shops. I always look for the opportunity to learn more. I appreciate crafts from different cultures of the world and hope to become internationally recognized. <br><br>
"It gives me great pleasure when I see my jewelry worn and appreciated. For me, it is the most rewarding moment of being an artist."
