When you see a lady with waist beads, what comes to your mind? Are you one of those that argue that it is spiritual and worn to attract men?
Or are you a person that believes waist beads are just ordinary fashion items.
While everyone has a right to their opinion, it is good to take a look at what it really stands for from time past.
Beads worn around the waist have been a symbol of African culture and fashion since time immemorial.
It is known as Ileke, Jigda, and Giri-giri in other African languages.
These beads are strung on fine fishing lines or carefully threaded ropes to adorn the waists of African women.
It is usually a beauty to behold, especially when it is worn by someone with a fine waist lining.
Also, they often come in beautiful colors, and the sounds of them stringing are a delight to the ear.
Adorned with these beads, the allure of the beaded woman is hard to miss.
What Is The Significance Of Waist Beads?
While some use it as a fashion item, others use it as a symbol of their spirituality.
It is also used as a symbol of cultural heritage, femininity, fertility, and sensuality.
Each bead, with its different colors and shapes, has different meanings in different societies and sends different messages depending on who wears it and who sees it.
The Traditional Significance of Waist Beads
In some African societies, female children are adorned with waist beads by their moms once they begin their period to mark their rite of passage into womanhood.
These beads symbolise the female child’s transition from childhood to adulthood and are proof of her fertility and sexuality.
In some cultures, these waist beads signify purity and are only to be taken off by her husband on their wedding night.
Traditionally, these beads are considered private, not to be seen by anyone except the wearer’s partner.
Waist beads can be used for the following purposes:
Body Awareness
It is believed that wearing these beads from a young age improves the fine curves African women are known for.
Waist beads can help a person become more aware of their stomach and posture.
The beads fit quite differently depending on how one is sitting and breathing.
They can serve as a reminder to sit up straight, engage your stomach muscles, relax your back, and breathe properly.
Cultural Heritage
In some African societies, mothers adorn their children with waist beads when they begin to see their menstrual cycle.
This is a symbol to show children’s transition into maturity or adulthood.
Waist beads also represent purity and can only be removed by their husbands on the wedding night.
Sexuality
There are men who find these beads attractive on their women, as it makes them more appealing in ‘the other room’.
Many women around the world use waist beads in intimate settings to enhance their sensuality.
Also they may be closely associated with fertility. Some women wear specific beads during sex when they’re trying to conceive.
Have You Read: Broke Guys Give Amazing Sex– TOKE MAKINWA
There is also another school of thought that a specific bead could keep pregnancy away.
Never Goes Out Of Style
Whichever way you choose to wear it, it is now used by many women and even men as fashion accessories, worn over clothes and under crop tops, showcasing each strand’s beauty.
One thing is for sure: Beads will always remain highly significant in African tradition.
SEE HOW CASHLESS POLICY TURNED HER BUSINESS AROUND
