In the Banganda culture of Uganda, Nambi is the daughter of Gulu the God of sky and heaven. Barkcloth has been part of Ugandan culture for centuries and is the ancient craft of the Banganda people of Southern Uganda. Traditionally it was created for the royal families. Both men and women worn the fabric like a toga, but the women added a sash around the waist. Bark from the Matuba tree (Ficus natalensis) is used to make the beads. The Banganda only use the inner bark which is then wrapped in banana leaves to retain moisture before the bead making process begins.
Trade Beads are beads that have been used as a form of currency for the exchange of goods and services especially in West Africa between the 16th and 20th centuries. Some of the more common items that these beads were bartered for include ivory, gold, slaves, and other goods that were in demand by Europeans and colonial overlords. Trade beads were made throughout Europe, however their production was concentrated in Venice and Bohemia where the secrets of glass bead production were a carefully guarded secret. The high demand for European beads in Africa can be attributed to the cultural value put by African peoples on decorative items. Jewellery items could add to the status of the owner and could be passed on to future generations as a symbol of wealth.
Today, antique and old trade beads have become highly collectible and can fetch large sums of money depending on their age, condition and design. The origin of the chevron bead in ‘Nambi’ is probably India as it also manufactured beads for the trade bead market.
All stock ships from the Gold Coast in Queensland. The standard order processing time is 1 – 3 business days. By placing an order for goods you agree that your details, such as name, contact numbers, delivery address can be passed to those third-party couriers. While we aim to get your order delivered to you within 5 – 10 working days, in the unlikely event of extended delays, we will endeavor to inform you. Any questions or follow up regarding delivery can be directed by email to info@empiresofthesun.com.au.
All deliveries will require a signature to ensure the parcel arrives in the hands of the correct person. This cost is included in the delivery fee. Empires of the Sun cannot be held responsible for late or failed deliveries for reasons outside our control e.g. third-party couriers or in the case of adverse weather conditions. Empires of the Sun inspects and takes due diligence while packing your order to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition. All orders must be inspected upon delivery and any breakages must be reported and photographed within 24 hours of receiving your order.
Please enquire about your specific delivery timeframes prior to purchase if you require express shipping.
Empires of the Sun designs hand-crafted items using unique and antique materials. Each piece may be crafted by many hands, from artisans all over the world. Because of this, each piece contains imperfections due to its handmade nature. To us, it's perfectly imperfect.
We make every effort to portray our goods as 'true to life' as possible. However, due to image photography, compression, different screen resolutions and displays, some colours might be slightly different. To have the best indication of true colour, please ensure you view all images and any accompanying videos. If for some reason you are unhappy with your purchase, please contact us via info@empiresofthesun.com.au or Facebook.
We do not accept returns for 'change of mind' sales. We will accept refunds for broken and damaged items as long as the items are returned to us. We stand by our craftsmanship, and in the unlikely case that your jewellery breaks due to craftsmanship issues, we will repair and return it to you free of charge. However, if any breakages occur due to dropping, impact damage or any cause outside of craftsmanship, no returns will be accepted.
Please feel free to contact us at info@empiresofthesun or on Facebook for more information.
