A treasure of many colors around the waist of a woman:
Waist beads are colorful beaded jewelry on a line of a white cotton thread strand. It is worn around the waist mostly by women and the female child. Wearing waist beads is a tradition that has been practiced by the descendants of the African countries for centuries. The beads are a finished, handcraft product of recycled glass materials.
There are many reasons African women and children wear waist beads. To the African woman, waist beads are not just jewels worn on the body. It represent a meaning of traditional values, culture and beliefs. Some common reasons why waist beads were worn in the past and currently are as follows:
BODY SHAPING
African women, mostly mothers believe wearing beads around the waist, around the knees, around the elbows, on the wrist and the ankles from infancy to the stage of adulthood help shape the body of a woman. Children born with weak wrists and ankles were worn beads for bone strength. Every woman is said to have a unique body shape. Wearing waist beads brings out the magic.
Since waist beads are arranged on a 100 percent cotton thread strand that does not stretch, it was a way for women to tell if she was gaining weight. The beads will feel tight and break as a sign of weight gain.
CONTRACEPTION
It sounds strange to hear that waist beads were a form of contraceptives. But the truth of the matter is yes, they were. Back in the days, they had a way of placing traditional herbs into beads to be worn around the waist by women to prevent pregnancy and the treatments of some diseases.
In Ghana, I was told that women in the olden days did not own sexy panties that could hold panty liners during that time of the month. They wore something called 'amonsee' not sure of the spelling. Basically, it was a piece of cloth that was worn which was supported by the beads they wore.
RITES OF PASSAGE
In Ghana, the Krobo tribe known very well for the making of beads use their handcrafted beads in their ceremonial rite of passage of young girls becoming women. The rite of passage for the Krobo's is called dipo, where young girls are ushered into womanhood when they reach their stage of puberty.
Although beads are mostly worn by women, in some parts of Africa, it is used to commemorate the rites of passage of boys becoming men. Boys wear beads during and after circumcision.
SPIRITUALITY
Beads played a lot in the spiritual aspect of Africa long time ago. Before Christianity, some people believed wearing beads was a way to protect oneself from evil spirits. Today, there are still many that still holds onto that belief.
ADORNMENT & SEXUALITY
Beads in general serves the purpose of adornment at wedding ceremonies, welcoming a child, funerals etc. Beads have a language of its own. It can attract people of the opposite sex, and strange spirits to the individual wearing it.
Waist beads on a woman were not to be seen by anyone except the significant other of the woman. Seeing it was a taboo, almost like seeing a lady's nakedness.
Some beads can make noise when the body is shaken or moved. Waist beads are in a way similar to the purpose of a lingerie. Something that spices up romance in the bedroom for married couples.
The colors of the beads have their meanings too. Watch out for more.
Priscilla Eghan