For many
African women, wearing beads is a way of life and a culture passed on to
them from their mothers. They grow up to find them on their waist even
before they begin to question its significance.
The waist bead is like a band worn around the
belly. In most cultures, they are a symbol of a woman’s confidence in
her body and sexuality. For me, they are precious African Jewels. They are always worn under
clothing.
The tradition of wearing of beads on the waist
in West Africa was made popular by the Yorubas in Nigeria. Women are the
main users of these beads.
But do you know the mysterious role they play
in the lives of females? Well, West African women in particular are
given waist beads as children to wear throughout life to help shape
their figures. It remains a mystery how the beads shape them, but
somehow, curvy African women attribute their voluptuous shape to the
waist beads. It is also used to measure the growth rate of children
(girls). When the beads become too small around the waist, then the
child is seen as growing.
After reading that, I took the liberty to
investigate more about waist beads.
“When they are on your waist, they shape your
body by keeping the waist small, so the hips are more accentuated,”
a bead seller named Linda told me. She added also that waist beads
were traditionally used to show the difference between a male and a
female.
In modern times however, gay men also buy waist
beads from her and put them on to differentiate between the male and the
female roles played in a homosexual relationship.
Patricia Naa Dei, a university student I met
buying these jewels, told me waist beads were simply for fashion. She
indicated, she didn’t like them but had to put them on to satisfy her
boyfriend, who loves to see them on her.
During sexual intercourse, her boyfriend
whose name she only gave as Ato, removes them and put them on his waist
and takes them off after the act. Weird, I agree. But lots of people do
kinky stuff in the bedroom, you know? “The rattling sound of the beads
during sex urges my guy on,” she added.
Beads on the waists of women are said to
possess the power to attract and evoke deep sensual feelings for men. So
I decided to shift gears and speak to a few gentlemen about the
subject.
Most of them including Charles
stressed that waist beads make the waist of the ladies attractive. He
said, “I like it on my wife and sometimes get irritated when she takes
them off. It’s sexy.”
Its power to turn men on is a mystery one
cannot comprehend, but the men agree whenever they see them on a woman’s
waist, it awakens their sensual desires. Aunty Monica the beads seller
advised young ladies especially the married ones to continue wearing
waist beads as it “charms” men to somehow remain faithful. According to
her, if a woman stops wearing her beads, the husband might be tempted to
cheat with another woman who puts them on.
Though this allegation has no scientific
backing and is more superficial than practical, could waist beads
actually reduce promiscuity in marriage?
We see them around, we see our daughters, sisters and wives wear them. Have we ever thought of their significance?
Well, besides its usefulness and mystical
powers, beads in general and royalty are also closely linked in Africa.
In Yoruba tradition, strands of beads are the emblems of the gods.
Wearing a beaded crown with a veil is the quintessential sign of
kingship. Also in Ghana, beads worn around the wrist and legs are signs
of royalty or priesthood.
For me, beads are not just mere ornament for
adornment, but with its mysteries, they are a symbol of the link between
Africans and superstition.
Successful Nigerian comedian, Bovi has stated that Nigerian celebrities
lie about surprise parties. According to him, there is no element of
‘surprises’ these public figures to be in the parties.
