Waist beads (sometimes called belly beads) are an accessory typically worn around the waist. They are made of a strand of small glass beads and come in different colors.
No, we didn't invent them, waist beads were made popular in West Africa, most notably in Ghana and Nigeria. Women wear waist beads to celebrate and acknowledge their femininity and traditionally, the different colors have meanings that are significant in many African communities. Different waist beads, depending on color, can convey different values. The history of waist beads, however, does not limit who is able to wear them! Although waist beads likely originated in Egypt and were popularized in West Africa, women of all ethnicities wear waist beads to celebrate and appreciate the beauty of African culture. Waist beads are beautiful, celebrate culture and sensuality, and also have practical purposes such as weight monitoring and posture awareness.
Meanings of waist bead colors sometimes vary between cultures and tribes in West Africa.
Here are the general meanings of the colors,
Gold waist beads symbolize good health, power, and wealth.
Clear waist beads can demonstrate that the wearer is gifted and clever.
Green waist beads symbolize abundance, nature, and prosperity.
Red beads symbolize confidence and vitality.
Blue beads convey loyalty and truth.
Black beads convey power and protection.
Pink waist beads convey care, beauty, love, and kindness.
White beads convey light and truth.
Yellow beads symbolize energy, joy, and happiness.
Purple waist beads convey royalty and wisdom.
Waist beads can symbolize femininity, maturity, and growth and make women of all shapes and ethnicities feel confident, beautiful, and love themselves more. The more you love yourself the better you treat your body. Your waist beads should have personal meaning to you and make you feel empowered. Traditionally, women have worn waist beads to feel feminine and beautiful, to symbolize a transition stage of their life, to represent sensuality, to symbolize fertility, and to show maturity and growth.
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