A beaded necklace is hours of patient work worn lightly around your neck. Every bead is placed by hand, row by row, and the pattern only appears once the last one is in place.
Here are the beaded necklaces we carry today, the earrings that match them, and a few ways to wear bold color.
Urembo African Beaded Choker
Urembo means beauty in Kiswahili. This round choker is made in Kenya using Maasai beading techniques, with a handmade pattern and color pairings that make a statement on their own. Choose ruby red or canary yellow.
Wear it: with an open neckline, a strapless dress or a simple black top, so the full circle of color sits against your skin.
Urembo African Beaded Choker
Beaded in Kenya using Maasai techniques. Ruby red or canary yellow
Choose Your ColorUrembo Tie Beaded Necklace
The Urembo Tie adds a tiered circle "tie" to a beaded collar, so the color falls down the front like a pendant. It lifts a plain dress or shirt instantly. It's made in small batches, so colors come and go.
Earrings That Match
Beaded earrings in the same palette turn a necklace into a set. All three of these are beaded in Kenya using Maasai techniques:
- Kajiado Beaded Earrings, named after Kajiado County, home to many Maasai communities. Available in red, yellow, cyan, lime green and white.
- Kitengela Beaded Earrings, named after the town of Kitengela. Available in green, brick red and black.
- Tanei Beaded Earrings, multicolor, named with a Maasai name for a girl.
Tip: match one color, not all of them. A red Urembo choker with red Kajiado earrings looks intentional. Add a multicolor earring and the look gets busy.
Prefer Brass? Two Pendant Alternatives
If beadwork isn't your everyday style, our brass necklaces offer the same handmade feel in a warmer, quieter way:
- Ingumba Necklace: a brass spiral pendant, named after one of our founder's sisters.
- Kanaga Necklace: a brass tie-pendant with geometric sections and a single green bead.
How to Wear Beaded Necklaces
- Let it be the only statement. With a bold beaded necklace, choose small earrings or beaded earrings in one matching color.
- Solid colors first. Black, white, denim and camel let the beadwork shine.
- Mind the neckline. Chokers suit open and strapless necklines. A crew neck works better with the Urembo Tie.
Caring for Beaded Jewelry
- Keep beadwork dry, and take it off before swimming or showering.
- Store it flat so the shape holds.
- Put it on after perfume and lotion.
Beaded Necklaces: Common Questions
Where are your beaded necklaces made?
Our Urembo choker is made in Kenya using Maasai beading techniques. We work directly with African artisans and have since 2011.
Do the beaded necklaces come in different colors?
Yes. The Urembo choker comes in ruby red and canary yellow, and the Urembo Tie in several colors depending on the batch. Check each product page for what's in stock.
Can I wear a beaded choker every day?
Yes. Keep it dry and store it flat, and it will last for years.
See all our African necklaces, or read Twiga Means Giraffe for the story behind our best-selling earrings.
Love, Africa
