In African countries, we have different kinds of beads; the leg beads, neck beads, ankle bead and waist bead.
The waist bead is also known as belly chain, jigida, oe ileke-idi. It can be traced as far back hundreds of years especially in the Yoruba culture. Some African culture uses it to adorn their daughter when they first start menstruating, as a sign of maturity.
It could be out on a child’s waist if the child is sick or has an infection. But these days, it’s used for fashion. When a woman wears it, it is also a sign to tell the opposite sex that she is at the proper stage of sexual intercourse.
Times have changed. These days, women use it for different notion. Here are two videos that shows why people wear beads: