Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 13 minutes ago
Ghana's Juliana Gharbin broke a Guinness World Record with the largest beaded bag in history. Now she's up for something even bigger.
Transcript
00:00This is the prototype for the largest bead sculpture.
00:04The Record Holding Bag measures 6.21 meters dimension.
00:13Winning the Guinness World Record was just the beginning.
00:17But what happens after the applause?
00:20What happens after everything?
00:24That is when the challenge begins.
00:27I want to establish a school. I want to pass on this knowledge and this skill to other people.
00:34But how do I begin? I don't know.
00:37She built the world's biggest beaded bag.
00:40A Guinness World Record. Thousands of beads.
00:43But one question remained. Now what?
00:45It was to let everyone, the world, know how artistic we the beaders are.
00:52So something that people actually do not really see it as a big thing.
00:57Something as small as beading could also be on a global platform.
01:02After the celebration, reality hits hard.
01:06A record doesn't build systems and it doesn't change how people see African craft.
01:10So Juliana decided to make an even bigger move than a world record to turn it into something really big.
01:17So I prefer a school where we can preserve the art and also create opportunities for people to learn.
01:24If you encounter someone who has learned the art from me and any other person who has also learned from
01:34social media, the difference is very clear.
01:36And one question also changed for Juliana. Not how big can the bag get, but can beadwork become a real
01:43career?
01:44Every profession started from somewhere. So currently what I and other beaders are doing is giving it structure.
01:54And then with all of this coming together, I think we can build a profession, a creative profession.
02:01Before her world record, Juliana was just another artisan.
02:05In Ghana, beadwork lives in markets and it's passed from hand to hand.
02:10For many, it's just a side hustle.
02:13Beading is also gaining some form of value.
02:16People are appreciating it because they want something unique.
02:20Probably it will get to a time that every individual would have to wear beads whenever they are attending a
02:27particular occasion or an important occasion.
02:30Juliana never saw beadwork as small.
02:32The world record didn't change her mindset.
02:35It's proved that something seen as small can capture the world's attention.
02:40Beadwork is my profession, so I believe it can become a profession for others as well.
02:46That is why I am advocating for a school where we will have structures in place.
02:52So when it is taught well with business knowledge, beadwork can become a profession for others and they can generate
02:59money from it.
03:01Now, she wants respect for the people behind the bead.
03:04The spotlight is here and Juliana is trying to turn it into something real, classrooms and training.
03:11In my school, I am going to teach beading, branding, product finishing, even how to price.
03:18It's a whole learning experience that you are going to have as a student.
03:22Getting a suitable place in Accra here for the school is a challenge.
03:27Financing it, I want it so huge, so I think this is harder.
03:32Currently, per the knowledge that I have, I have designed something, a curriculum that my students have access and use
03:41as we grow.
03:43I am going to engage with other industry professionals to come up with a well-structured curriculum for the school.
03:51Because building a school is different and not just creating.
03:55Juliana has to make tough decisions.
03:57How does she price creativity?
03:59Who will validate the craft and what future is she promising?
04:06Sometimes, I do have doubt.
04:09I wonder where I am even going to get the financial support to pursue this dream.
04:14But then, everyone started from somewhere.
04:16So, I know that if I start, definitely I am going to get to a point.
04:22And someday, somehow, I will also get to the end.
04:27Meaning, we will definitely get there or we will achieve it.
04:30Every student who walks in is taking a risk.
04:33Not just learning a skill, but believing this can be their future.
04:39My bidding training is going well.
04:41I am even surprised that in a short time, I have been able to make beautiful items.
04:46And surprisingly, friends and loved ones are buying it for me.
04:49It is a source of income.
04:50And I am hoping in the future, it will be a full-time job.
04:53If she succeeds, Ghana won't just be known for one big bag.
04:57It could become the place the world looks at for a next generation of bid designers and record breakers.
05:04Small beads.
05:06Big creativity.
Comments

Recommended