During my time overseas, I met a Liberian girl who wore waist beads. Nothing fancy, just one bright strand of glass beads around her small waist. She explained to me how she uses the waist beads to keep track of her weight. I thought, “those must be some magic beads.” If they get me a small waist then sign me up immediately.
Waistbeads Last As Long As Memories📿
As your stomach shrinks, waistbeads drop towards your waist. But that doesn't mean they are no longer of use. NO NEED FOR A SCALE when waistbeads confirm how you maintain your weight.Shop for perfect summer essentials before it's too late🛍 pic.twitter.com/yGOhSQEb6i
— BoppinBeads (@BoppinBeads) March 31, 2021
Fast forward to two years later, I now wear 5 strands of waist beads.
My waistbeads were made in Nigeria. The string also Nigerian. The people who made them prayed over my beads for a whole week. The process of making waistbeads is very spiritual & while I get some do it for decor that’s not all there is to it.
— 🌞⚕ (@TeeAirRa_) July 11, 2019
Why waist beads?
I’d love to say that they are spiritual but that would be a lie. I really wish they were. There are some people who are spiritually gifted who have to wear waist beads as instructed by their spirit guides. Some are given the waist beads when they are born. This is most prevalent in African cultures who believe the waist beads will bring blessings, protection, divine health, depending on what colour the beads are. Yes, the colour of the beads is critical.
For clarification on waistbeads:
Historically waistbeads have always been sacred/cultural body ornaments. Women have worn them for various spiritual reasons. With a big emphasis on VARIOUS.In our more recent generations the wearing of waistbeads have evolved.
— Stushy B 👸🏽 (@ChinkyBellianii) June 29, 2020
What’s the big deal surrounding waist beads?
I came across a post that cautioned men not to mess around with women who wear waist beads. All the author said is, men should run when they meet women with waist beads, he didn’t bother explaining why. I’m very curious to find out how he came to that conclusion.
I asked this jewelry guy if he could get me something like this, he simply replied that these are for prostitutes.
Guys, are waist beads that bad? Cos I really like them but I don't want people perceiving me badly when I purchase one😪😪 pic.twitter.com/mLpxIHD2Bf— Tif_♒ (@tif256) February 9, 2020
Are all waist beads wearers bad?
Like literally anything and everything on this planet, there are some people who have perverted waist beads and thus resultantly, created a stereotype surrounding waist beads. I was doing my wedding rounds with my best friend and my waist beads kept peeking at the top of my jeans. When we were in the car she said to me, “Maybe it’s best you leave them at home when you are wearing jeans. Not too many people will understand that they are just for aesthetics.” This is the last thing I wanted considering I was about to join a new family whose beliefs I wasn’t sure of.
Some ladies actually wear it to get men … anytime I have something with a lady with waistbeads I start having spiritual issues. Nightmares and so on.
— Marc 🇺🇸 (@Marc_ife) October 25, 2019
Aren’t waist beads sexual?
In my research, I came across an article which implies that women will cast spells on their waist beads almost like a love potion to enchant men. I can’t disprove this claim because I don’t know the first thing about mystic things.
They say men are useless, men are scum on Twitter, but they are paying Jaruma N100,000 for phone consultations on how to trap men and N200K face to face.
N200,000 for waistbeads to attract men.
N35,000 for a charm to keep men.
From Lagos to London. International juju. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/SaZ9lhFk8y
— World Publicist (@IsimaOdeh) October 5, 2019
No insults lady..thanks,if you're pained,stop from using charms in the name of waistbeads on men…you and you alone knows what am saying… That's why you're being pained.
— MC MELUKAMS (@McMelukams4God) January 9, 2021
Some women will earn waist beads during sex education trainings such as Chinamwali. This is an African culture ritual for women to learn about their sexuality. It’s much more than just about sex. This practice is frowned upon due to the rigorous nature and possible sexual abuse of girls as young as 12 years old. In this new age, young women can signup for the watered-down version of these Chinamwali sessions which may or may not include, back-breaking.
What do my waist beads mean to me?
I was influenced by Beyoncé to get some of them. She mentions them in her song, ‘Black Parade.’ She is also adorning them in her promo videos for Ivy Park Drip. In this one video, she has her back towards the camera, twerks, and the waist beads pop out and back under. It’s a game of peek-a-boo. There’s a sensuality that comes with wearing waist beads. It’s the same feeling you get when you are wearing cute lingerie or a pretty dress. I find myself moving my waist a lot just to hear them jingle. Hopefully, this leads to a smaller waist.
Sensual dance in the shower while playing love songs, put on my pretty pretty waistbeads and lingerie, with my perfume and polish my nails. https://t.co/uIOdNn7hrV
— Voluptuous&Soft💗 (@RedBonePretty_1) March 30, 2021
See the waistbeads @Beyonce is wearing for her #IvyParkXAdidas photoshoot? My cousin made them. I’m so proud of her!!! Check out Alaiyo Waistbeads baby 🥰 pic.twitter.com/AyXgyUgZ5y
— Lauren Y. (@LNICHELLE) October 30, 2020
As women, we need to be allowed to wear whatever we want, society be damned. Prudes will be infuriated by waist beads because of the sexual liberation the waist beads allude to. If you wear waist beads you are seen as a Jezebel temptress or Siren luring men to their deaths. A gender which is always sexually assaulting women, even spiritually with Mubobobo, is afraid of glass beads. Make it make sense.
Not all waistbeads are spiritual. They’re saved for people within the culture and who actually are part of the culture. My mum did warn me as a child though not to accept waistbeads from anyone from MY culture but these random ones, aren’t an issue.
— Zo (@ZorayaBlack_) January 11, 2021
CHECK OUT MY NEW VIDEO ON THE ART OF AFRICAN WAIST BEADS ! #TRUBAKERTAKEGHANA #WAISTBEADS #GHANA #african https://t.co/5hPUjPX7sV pic.twitter.com/aGxCWMjIwm
— Motha Iman (@MothaIman) April 1, 2021