The ghana waist beads are renowned ornaments from the olden days until the present day. The waist beads come in different colors and sizes to fit the person wearing them. Ghanaians have a rich heritage of wearing waist beads, which served as a sign of wealth for women who wore them. The waist beads were worn by women of all ages, including girls, who are given the waist beads once they are mature. Ghanaian waist beads are made of wood, marble, plastic, gemstones, crystals, glass, and metal suspended on a wire, cord, thread, or twine. Currently, waist beads are worn by women to add aesthetic to their attires and as a measure of how much weight one is gaining or losing. The ornaments were worn in the past for various reasons, as we shall see below.
Significance of Ghana Waist Beads
1. A Sign of Womanhood
Mothers embellish Ghanaian girls who hit puberty and received their first periods with waist beads as a sign of transition from being children to being women. A girl receiving her periods is a sign of fertility and prompts appraisal by older women as the girls will one day give birth to their babies and lead to the community’s growth. Getting periods for girls is a sign of sexuality in Ghanaian culture.
2. A Sign of Purity
In Ghanaian culture, girls who were not married received waist beads from wearing. Waist beads are sacred for the girl’s husband to remove on their wedding night. In Ghanaian heritage, an admirer would give a set of ornaments as part of a dowry to the girl he wants to marry. The ornaments included bracelets, waist beads, anklets, and necklaces.
3. Acted As a Body Shaper
Ghanaian women wore waist beads as a way to shape their bodies. They believed that waist beads would maintain the waist’s small size and highlight the hips. The waist beads would make the girls aware of slight changes in their bodies, such as increased or decreased weight. The waist beads are made of a cotton thread with no elasticity and hook; therefore, they would go up when the girl had added weight and reel down the waist when the girl lost weight.
4. Used as Sexual Charms
In the traditional setting, waist beads were a symbol of sexual desire. The girls wore the beads to attract potential suitors their way. They believed that a man could not resist a girl with waist beads. Some women even went the extra mile by adding fragrances and charms on the waist beads to strengthen the effect. Some women still wear waist beads to seduce men in the present day.
Conclusion
Waist beads are beautiful ornaments that women of all shapes and sizes can wear. In the traditional setting, they symbolized fertility, sexuality, and transition to womanhood. Waist beads are efficient body shapers and can help you track your weight. Do not shy away from buying waist beads, and be a part of this fascinating culture.
