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Yaw Abora Asante

"I am Yaw Abora Asante, born September 7, 1967, in Ghana's Ashanti region. I attended Roman Catholic primary and middle school from 1975 to 1985.

"I learned this art from Mercy Amaning. In 2000, she sent me to an art school to learn more about jewelry making and I was awarded a certificate in jewelry. In 2003, I was admitted to a computer school where I obtained a diploma in graphics.

"What inspires me most is dreaming all the time of dressing models with bead jewelry for programs. Also, the way I see most Africa women dressed in beads that they really cherish motivates me in my work.

"I like to make jewelry, because it teaches me more about our culture and how very important jewelry has been since our forefathers' times up to today. In making my jewelry, I prefer Krobo beads, which are more traditional. There is a saying in the Akan language that says 'tradition always goes on.'

"I passed through some difficult times but I never gave up on jewelry making, although some of my friends always tell me that this is women's work. But that does not discourage me. Rather, it keeps me going, and I tell them that I will get to the top. Today I have my own workshop where I am training three people. I attended an exhibition in the United Kingdom, in 2004, and in Atlanta in 2005.

"My favorite things in life are traveling and driving, and my goals in the near future include having a very big shop where many people will come and buy and where I can train a more people in jewelry making.

"I was born to Mr. Philip Asante and Mrs. Felicia Ohenewaa and we are eleven children. I am still a single man and waiting for the right time to come."