Waist Bead: A Cultural Ornament for Beautification of Igbo/African Women.
Waist bead is universal in African culture. From East to West to South and North Africa, there are different versions of waist bead prior to the arrival of colonists.
Waist bead is universal in African culture. From East to West to South and North Africa, there are different versions of waist bead prior to the arrival of colonists.
It is a cultural representation of fertility, beauty, virtue in African women.
In Igbo land, waist bead formed an integral part of the Igbo culture. There were existing ones in form of copper. I saw it once from a woman who took osiahụ title in my village.
In Igbo land, waist bead formed an integral part of the Igbo culture. There were existing ones in form of copper. I saw it once from a woman who took osiahụ title in my village.
She died when I was still a kid. I knew of another woman called Mgborie Eze. She was a titled woman too in my village. She had different forms of waist beads especially the one called "jigida".
Traveling around Igbo land, I visited older women, even those in the northern Igbo (Nsụka Zone) I was shown their jidiga.
I met my grandmother's jigida too. In the olden days, jigida was part of requirements for marriage.
I met my grandmother's jigida too. In the olden days, jigida was part of requirements for marriage.
As we have list now and requirements for marriage, jigida must be there if not, it's incomplete.
It was a great ornament used for beautification. Aside this, waists beads are a symbol of feminity, fertility, sensuality and spiritual well-being of Igbo and African women.
It was a great ornament used for beautification. Aside this, waists beads are a symbol of feminity, fertility, sensuality and spiritual well-being of Igbo and African women.
It is not only for Igbo culture but all the African countries observe this culture. In Ghana, Sierra Leone, etc waist beads are graciously honoured.
Igbo women in the past wore anklets too. Our ancestors wore all these things. They are not new.
Igbo women in the past wore anklets too. Our ancestors wore all these things. They are not new.
Igbo women never joked with all this.
Now, about the waist beads of today. Many have argued with me that waist beads our women are using today are not the same with the one our mothers of old wore.
Now, about the waist beads of today. Many have argued with me that waist beads our women are using today are not the same with the one our mothers of old wore.
I ask the same people, the clothes you wear today, are they the same as the one our ancestors wore? Culture is dynamic. It changes over time. Dynamism of culture gives room to innovations and creativity. You see why our 21st century women cannot be like 19th century women.
Waist bead is not new to Igbo society. It was there. Ask your grandparents questions about jigida. It was a prerequisite for marriage in the past. A man who buys jidiga for his wife is bound to be loved with wholesoul. Women adore such men. Our grandmothers wore it.
But they tell you it is a sin now.
My people, waist bead is not bad, but your mentality influenced by many years of religious indoctrination made this beautiful aspect of our culture to look alien. Of course most jigida were imported from northern part of the country.
My people, waist bead is not bad, but your mentality influenced by many years of religious indoctrination made this beautiful aspect of our culture to look alien. Of course most jigida were imported from northern part of the country.
If you point on this to claim that waist bead (jigida) was strange to Igbo people, how about isi agụ or isi ọdụm even red cap...don't you know they were imported too? As men use these attires to beautify themselves, domesticate them and assimilate them as part of Igbo culture
the same thing goes with waist bead. All the titled women in the past wore different versions of it. This and uri were basic aspect of women's makeup.
I paused!
I paused!
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