Indeed, the issue of adornment has always been full of contention especially here in Nigeria. More so, when this adornment pertains to ladies, this contention gets even hotter.
Over centuries, women have been known to adorn themselves with different accessories on different parts of their bodies. While most accessories have been appreciated and even used as a standard of beauty, waist beads have been a contention among different groups of people.
Ileke, jigida, giri giri, ibolo, are one and same thing as waist bead, depending on were you come from and what you know it to be.
Waist beads are a piece of jewelry worn around the waist or hip area. They hold deep cultural significance, peculiar to different societies worn by women or sometimes men.
In some African societies, female children are adorned with waist beads by their mothers once they get their periods to mark their passage into womanhood. These beads symbolize the female child's transition from childhood to adulthood, proof of her fertility and sexuality.
In other cultures, they signify purity and are only to be taken off by her husband on their wedding night. Traditionally, waist beads are considered private, not to be seen by anyone except the wearer's partner, for they possess an intimate appeal that provokes one's desires for another.
These beads are laced with charms and fragrances in other cultures, which are irresistible.
Waist beads are viewed as traditional lingerie, wearing them during intimacy is believed to enhance the sexual experiences of the wearer and her partner.
They serve as an instrument for body shaping, keeping wearer's informed of even the slightest change in their weight. While they don't stretch, they either roll up or break as the wearer gains weight.it is also believed that wearing waist bead from a younger age improves the fine curves African women are known for.
Unfortunately, many Nigerian men now see women who wear it as diabolical, thanks to love portion peddlers on social media. Some other people can't hold back their disdain for this particular accessory and go as far as considering it evil and a sin to wear it.
Women who wear waist beads these days are seen as evil, primitive, and prostitutes, which is a wrong impression. Many women use waist beads as spiritual protection and attract love which can lead to hatred on the part of their partners if they find out.
Today, it is become a popular trend where women from all races, shapes, sizes, have adopted wearing these colorful and vibrant beads, proudly on the their waist. Each bead with it's different colors and shapes possess different meanings in different societies and send across messages depending on who wears and who sees it.
It is ironic how something that was once used as protection charm in some African cultures, is now considered a bad omen.
At the end of the day, like any accessory, waist beads are a way of self expression, so it's all about individual preference.