Krobo , Ghana ( CNN ) -- A new generation of Ghanaians are rediscovering their heritage -- and rediscovering the appeal of traditional beads . Many Ghanaians used to associate beads with an old-fashioned coming-of-age ritual for girls . But not anymore . Tairee , a student at the University of Ghana , is proud to wear traditional beads . `` It 's coming back into fashion , '' she told CNN . `` People can actually wear them on their necks and as parts of their clothing . I do n't think they are old fashioned . It 's coming back . '' But it 's not just women who are fans . Masoom , another University of Ghana student , said he thought women looked good in beads . `` It 's attractive , '' he told CNN . `` They [ women ] are more African when they wear their beads than usual . Especially when they wear it around their waist ; it brings out the shape of their waist , and it 's real attractive . '' Rwanda lives rugby dream in Hong Kong . According to a local market trader , the bead revival is a sign that young Ghanaians are experiencing what she called `` sankofa . '' `` There 's a culture of 'sankofa : ' Go back and retrieve what you 've left behind , '' said bead-shop owner Ernestina Anafu . `` There was a period when they [ young people ] shunned beads ; they said it was archaic , it was no longer fashionable . Since this period of 'sankofa ' people are going traditional again . '' Beads have a long history in Ghana . They were once the king 's currency , according to E.B.T . Sikapa , an organizer for the first Ghana International Beads Festival . He told CNN that beads were once exchanged for slaves , alcoholic drinks , and textiles . Central African Gorillas may become extinct . While beads are no longer used as currency , they are still valuable to Ghana . The Ghanaian government has recognized the potential of the bead industry as a tourist attraction and in foreign trade . Kati Torda , owner of Sun Trade Beads , has seen her exports -- mostly to Europe -- increase from five-percent of her revenue eight years ago , to 50 percent last year . Now she 's looking to grow her business even more as she expands her product lines . `` Because of that new potential , we do n't just produce necklaces and bracelets , we produce home decoration , '' Torda told CNN . `` Of course , the potential is endless . '' At a local market , some of the beads on sale are over 100 years old , recovered from burial grounds . But there are other , less ghoulish , forms of recycling being used , with some beads produced from recycled materials such as glass bottles . `` Ghana can teach a thing or two to the world about recycling , '' said Torda . But the new-found popularity of beads is n't just about giving old materials a new lease of life -- it 's about breathing new life into traditional ideas . `` They [ the beads ] mean so much to me , '' Tairee told CNN . `` It 's not just colors . Where I 'm from , if you wear something like blue it 's purity , white is fertility , gold is wealth . I know what it means , so its so precious to me . '' CNN 's Richard Lui and Mark Tutton contributed to this report .
Young Ghanaians are rediscovering traditional beads . The government is trying to promote the country 's bead industry . Some beads are made from recycled materials , including glass bottles .