Thanks to a US-based Nigerian lady who casually shared that the women in her family wear a specific type of waist beads sourced from a local market in Abeokuta, the “waist beads are for snatching your destinies” conversation is back on social media.
The chaotic discussion on X led me to ask these Nigerian women why they wear waist beads.
Taiye*, Lagos
I wear waist beads simply for beautification. I love how they accentuate my waist and make clinking sounds when I dance or wiggle them. I’ve recently stopped adding to my collection because I already have too many.
Damola*, Ogun
In my culture, waist beads are called “Ileke Idi or bebedi.” I’ve loved wearing them since I was a teenager, although my mum didn’t approve of them when I was in secondary school. I know they’re mostly worn for beautification, but I’ve also had friends who wear fortified beads handed to them by their mums. These beads are a form of protection against evil and negative energy, not meant to harm men.
Risikat*, Osun
I’m not a big fan of waist beads, but my husband loves them. He’s from Isale-Eko in Lagos and always talks about how women rock shiny and attractive waist beads to enhance their appearance. So, let’s just say I started wearing them because of him. My husband has a specific preference; he only loves triple-layer beads in gold or silver.
Ada*, Imo
In my culture, waist beads are mostly worn for beautification. Some special ones are also worn during traditional wedding ceremonies or chieftaincy title installations, but that’s about it. I’m not a big fan of them because they sometimes make my waist uncomfortable.
Beatrice*, Anambra
Waist beads are also called “mgbaji” in my culture, and they’re mostly worn by women for beautification or during special occasions like traditional wedding ceremonies. My granny said that in her days, the beads were part of the necessary items the groom had to present to his bride before marriage. I don’t think it’s still a thing because my husband didn’t give me waist beads, and no one made a fuss about it.
Balikis*, Kwara
Most women in my family wear waist beads; I think we have our granny to thank. That was her “traditional” method of watching our weight growing up. When the beads get tight, it means that we’ve put on extra flesh, and when they go loose, it shows that we’ve lost weight.
Hadiza*, Minna
I don’t like waist beads, but I know some women in my family who wear them. I once asked my mum, and according to her, some of the beads have medicinal purposes apart from beautification. She said the waist beads are a form of traditional contraception that helps women control childbirth. You can hardly see the beads of these women anyway because they are usually fully clothed.
Blessing*, Imo
Women in my family mainly wear waist beads as part of post-childbirth care. The beads are believed to have healing properties that speed up recovery and help restore a woman’s body after childbirth. Some women continue wearing them for beautification long after they’ve recovered.
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