Waist beads
Waist beads are a piece of jewelry that is worn on the belly, waist, or hip area. These pieces, originating in Africa, are traditionally worn by women as a symbol of waist size, beauty, sexual sensations, femininity, fertility, well-being, and maturity. To make the ornament, beads are laced on thread, wire, or elastic string. Production. Waist beads can be made of glass, metal, crystals, gemstones, charms, wooden beads, or plastic beads. These materials are typically laced on a cotton thread, twine, thread, wire, clear cord, or elastic cord to make the ornament. The color and the materials  used are symbolic in many African cultures and in moral personal meanings. Traditionally, the first step to making the trinket is awareness of why it is being made. Next is to measure the waist and choose which material to lace the ornaments on, such as thread, twine, wire, cotton thread, or elastic string. Cut the string to the length of the desired placement of the waist bead on the waist, belly, or hip area. Then choose which colors and materials that the gaud should be made of. Afterward choose how the waist bead should be sealed, such as with a  clamp, a tight knot, burning together of plastic, or some sort of crimp lock. Finally, take the premeasured string and begin to lace the preferred materials onto it, and once it is filled to its entirety seal the waist bead so that the beads will not fall off. Meaning of waist beads. Waist beads were originated for a woman to represent their personal beliefs. This can be embraced through different gems, colors, crystals, and individual well-being. The uses for waist beads depend on why someone wants to wear them. Meaning of materials. Colors. Colors are sensations of the eye  with the reflection of light on many components. Colors causes psychological effects that intensifies our genuine intentions. Gemstones and Crystals. Gemstones and crystals come from the earth's surface. Many believe there are healing properties and other properties that can be obtained from their materials. Origins. Waist beads originated in Egypt, where they were called girdles. Egyptians wore them around their waist or lower waist. Girdles were made of chains, wire, thread, and shells, and contained multiple colors. Today, people from many African cultures wear waist beads, including Ghanaians, Senegalese, Yoruba, Ewes, Ashantis, Krobos, Indians, and Ga-Adanbes. Each culture  has its own reason for wearing theem. Ghanaian culture. In Ghanaian culture, woman begin to wear waist beads due to aging and orders from their mothers. This symbolizes maturity and the beginning of womanhood. "Dipo" is the initiation ceremony that is held for the young lady. The beads are worn on the neck, ankles, and waist. They are worn on the waist as pieces to resemble luck. The waist beads are made of seeds, seashells, glass pieces, teeth, ivory, and stones. The majority of the beads were hand-painted. The bigger the beads are the more mature the woman is  sexually. As of today, they are a fashion statement. Yoruba. The Yoruba waist beads are called Ileke, Jigida, and Lagidigba. They are traditionally a piece of jewelry and a piece of their spirituality. Using glass, nuts, different woods, and metals they create beautiful beads for the waist. These are worn as a symbol of confidence and femininity, fertility, and well-being. They are worn for posture, pregnancy, beauty, weight tracking, protection, growth, sexual desire, and royalty.