Waist beads: History, benefits, disadvantages and how to make them
Waist beads have held an important place in African tradition for centuries. Whether hidden under clothes or worn over them, the sound of these beads is mesmerising, and the colours draw the eyes as the wearer moves. Unfortunately, many Nigerian men now see women who wear it as diabolical, thanks to love portion peddlers on social media.
The alluring sight and sounds of waist beads probably add to the notion that they are more diabolical than aesthetic. However, in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and other West African countries, they symbolise femininity, fertility, sensuality, and spiritual well-being. In the west, especially in the United States, women wear it for more practical purposes like health and fashion.
Table of Content hide 1What are waist beads? 2History of waist beads 3Are waist beads evil? 4Benefits of waist beads 4.11. Beauty 4.22. Boosts self-confidence 4.33. Maturity 4.44. Helps weight loss 4.55. Means of livelihood 4.66. Boosts sexual attraction and satisfaction 4.77. Heritage 5Importance of waist beads in lovemaking 6Disadvantages of waist beads 7How to make waist beads 7.1Materials 7.2DirectionsWhat are waist beads?
According to Healthline, they are traditional African accessory that consists of small glass beads on a string or wire worn around the waist or hips. The accessories are made in different colours and lengths. They hold a significant purpose in Africa; over the years, these beads have become popular globally.
History of waist beads
Waist beads can be traced to Africa, where many believe they originated from Egypt. Then, they were known as “girdles” and were worn by women as a status symbol. In West Africa, particularly Nigeria, they were worn by women from the different tribes years before the colonial era. These beads were worn to celebrate womanhood, sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, body shaping, protection, and wealth.
However, many also believe that the Yoruba tribe made waist beads popular. Yoruba women were reportedly known for lacing the beads with charms and fragrances that would be considered irresistible to the opposite sex. In Ghana, they represent the “coming-of-age” into womanhood for girls. They can also represent what class a woman is in, her economic status, and fertility.
According to Google Arts & Culture, waist beads were introduced to East Africa by the Arabs and Portuguese traders from the 16th to 18th centuries. These beads were worn to promote healing properties and other similar ways in different African countries. In Southern Africa, Zambian and Malawian women use their beads while pregnant or to seduce their husbands.
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Are waist beads evil?
They are traditionally worn for sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, body shaping, protection, and wealth. However, some Christian communities believe women wearing them are evil and will not make heaven. They believe that these beads are bad omens that promote witchcraft and prostitution. The general notion is that women who wear waist beads lace them with charms to steal other women’s husbands. The fact that many of these beads are made from cowrie shells which are popularly known for being used for traditional rituals has added to the fear that they are evil.
While it is true that some women wear these beads for diabolical purposes, thanks to love portion/kayanmata peddlers, most just wear them for aesthetic or body shaping purposes. So, they are not evil, QED.
Benefits of waist beads
Here are 7 benefits of waist beads:
1. Beauty
Many women wear them for beautification purposes. They are colourful and enticing, and women who wear them look very appealing and lithe.
2. Boosts self-confidence
They improve body image in women. Women who used to hate their bodies, particularly the stomach, use the waist beads to boost their self-confidence. The sparkling and fascinating colours of the beads help the women see themselves in a more beautiful light.
3. Maturity
Traditionally, they are used to signify the rite of womanhood. Mothers buy these beads for their daughters to show them they have matured into grown-up women capable of taking care of their own families.
4. Helps weight loss
Nowadays, most women wear them to check their weight. Rather than stepping on a scale all the time, they simply wear these beads to check when they are adding or losing weight. The beads will be tight around their waists if they add weight. If they are losing weight, the beads will feel loose around the waist.
5. Means of livelihood
Some people earn their daily income by selling waist beads. The popular the beads are, the more money they make. African waist beads have provided jobs for bead artists, distributors, models, photographers, and even writers.
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6. Boosts sexual attraction and satisfaction
A lot of men find these beads sexy on women. The sounds, colours, and occasional peaking out of the beads under the clothes are mesmerising and can turn men on. Hence, it increases a woman’s sensuality and makes her more appealing to the opposite sex. Also, waist beads enhance the libidos of partners during lovemaking. We shall elaborate on that later.
7. Heritage
Many black women in the diaspora wear waist beads to connect to their African roots since most of them lack adequate knowledge about their African lineage due to slavery; they wear these beads as a reminder that they have African blood running through them.
Importance of waist beads in lovemaking
- Waist beads make a woman look more sexually attractive.
- They help create sexual fantasies, which lead to a desire to have sex with women wearing them. That’s why many believe waist beads are laced with charms.
- Waist beads boost libido during lovemaking. The male partner can run his fingers on the beads during foreplay to prolong the orgasm. Also, waist beads can help a woman bring different moods during lovemaking. She can use different colors or styles to create different moods during sex.
- Waist beads are believed to create spiritual connections between sexual partners through traditional prayers.
Disadvantages of waist beads
- Waist beads give wrong impressions to people about women who wear them. These women are seen as evil, primitive, and prostitutes.
- They can cause infections if they are worn for a long time without proper cleaning or changing entirely.
- Many women use waist beads as spiritual protection and attract love, which can lead their partners to break up with them if they find out the true purpose.
- Can cause allergies due to the different materials used in making the beads, such as wood, gemstones, coloured glass, and metal. Also, a broken bead can cause injuries.
- Can cause body image issues. A significant myth about waist beads is the belief that girls who wear them grow bigger hips. However, those who don’t have bigger hips after wearing the beads may develop low self-esteem and hate their bodies.
How to make waist beads
Materials
- Glass Seed Beads or any beads of your choice
- Stringing Material/nylon (Approx. 50 inches)
- Crimp lock (2 pieces)
- Lobster Clasps (1 piece)
- Split Rings (2 pieces)
- Crimping Pliers
- Jump rings
Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Beginners
Directions
- Measure your waist with tape or string nylon where you want the beads to sit.
- Cut the string nylon according to the measurement but add an extra 8 inches to ensure you have enough string left to lock the waist beads.
- Add your crimp lock to the string, then the jump ring, and loop it back in the crimp lock. Flatten it with your crimping pliers to stop the beads from falling out.
- Arrange the beads to your liking until you’re satisfied with the pattern and until you reach the measurement.
- Open your jump ring with the crimping pliers and attach the lobster clasp. Then flatten with your crimping pliers.
Your waist beads are ready. I hope you enjoy wearing them.
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