Why women put on waist beads

Why women put on traditional Waist Beads.

African women especially young girls wear waist beads to help with weight control, to keep a feminine shape and train the stomach.

If the beads started to squeeze or roll up stomachs, it signify that weight is being gained but if beads begin to fall down to hips, it’s an indication of weight loss.

However apart from calculating weight loss and weight gain, waist beads are a symbol of femininity, fertility, sensuality, and spiritual well-being.

In west Africa like Senegal waist beads were also worn as medicine and spiritual purposes against rape, infections and unwanted pregnancies from unprotected sex.

This beads are usually gifted to young girls by their mothers, grandmothers and Aunties, as a symbol of coming of age.