system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Dragon Ball] How do you create a set of Dragon Balls?

Neither Kami nor Dende seemed to be very powerful, and yet Shenron's ability to grant wishes was contingent on them being alive and having enough power to grant the wish themselves (at least in terms of defeating enemies).  

Is dragon ball creation unique to Namekians? Can it be taught?  I read that Mr. Popo was able to create them once, but that was in a video game, so canon is questionable.
gpt
When Dende came to become the new guardian of earth he needed two things, 7 stone balls and a model of the dragon carved from a tree native to Namek.

Then all it takes is some magic words, and the dragon is born, it's life force is tied to the Namekean who created it.