JIGIDA WAIST BEADS

Hello everybody, it has been quite sometime now. I have really been busy these past few months and I have not had time to update this blog. I want to say I am sorry. However, today’s post is going to be a little bit explicit, so readers discretion is advised. 

The tradition of wearing waist beads is an age long tradition in Africa. The waist bead is synonymous with feminism and is mostly adorned by women in Africa. To some, it serves as an exclusive symbol of their femininity, and to others, its just a piece of jewelry for the adornment of the waist. Without the waist, women have nothing to show as proof of their sexy figures and so, it is not out of place to see women wearing beads to beautify the waist. 

In Nigeria, the wearing of waist bead is wide spread across the various nationalities that make up the country. The Hausas called it Jigida, The yoruba’s call it ileke or Ladigba, The Igbos call it Mbgaji. These various ethnic groups wear it for various reasons> Some women claim that they wear beads to help them keep their figures because when the beads get tight, they know they would have to work on their weight. For some, its mainly spiritual, while for others they wear it to prevent themselves from negative energy, especially pregnant women. While for some others they believe that it possesses intimate appeal and has the power to provoke deep emotional response from the opposite sex. In Yoruba land it is believed that the beads helps to portray the chastity of a maiden or women sensuality.

However, today’s post is informed by a story I read online about a girl from Kwara state, whose grandmother placed beads on her waist and told her that the waist beads can only be broken if and only when she marries someone from her village and as such, no one could have sexual penetration with her until she gets married, and it must be to someone from her village. According to the story, she had several relationships with various guys and all had ended abruptly, most especially after having sexual intimacy with them as they all end up ejaculating before they could enter her.  She had had several encounters with different men and the story was always the same, so much so that it became a known thing in town, with most guys avoiding her while some others trying to get close to find out if its really true.

I had a good laugh after reading this. I wont say I have a problem with what the grand mother did, because to me, its just a way of ensuring that the grand daughter kept her chastity till marriage. However, the problem is with the clause that the girl must marry from her village. If she nor come see man wen she like from her village nko? Lol, or if she falls in love with a man from another state and they decides to get married what will happen? Well, this is a case of a good intention turned bad. The rumour in town now is that the a spell has been cast on the girl. 

It is cases like this that make lots of guys avoid girls with beads on their waist. They believe that most of these waist beads have some spiritual undertone on it. Some believe that some of these girls wearing waist beads belong to the occult world. There was this story I heard too about a runz girl who in her bid to make good money from politician clients went to a native doctor to prepare a charm for her. The native doctor gave her a waist bead to put on her waist and of course this bead made her rich because any man that slept with her spent a fortune on her would not want to leave her. In no time, she had houses all over Abuja and was cruising around in good cars. Eventually it was time for her to settle down and she met a guy whom she settled with. However, the problem was that she could not conceive, and she kept having nightmares of babies laughing at her with money on their mouth, and her former clients pursuing her both in her dreams and in real life, because they could not let go. She was at loss as to what to do, as it was clear that the charm had its repercussion. She did not know whether to tell her hubby about her past and seek help, or bear the pain alone.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with women wearing waist beads. I see it as an excellent way for women to feel more beautiful and feminine. To lots of men it’s a huge turn on for them. In the Fulani culture, a married woman wears about 8-9 beads on her waist, so that when she walks it makes lots of noise and people would know shes married. However, the beads can only be seen by her hubby and other females around her. The wearing of beads by women these days has added a new dimension to the fashion world in Nigeria. While some men detest it, some others encourage their partners to get them as it makes them more sensual and attractive. So it is different strokes for different folks.

Do tell, what is your opinion on waist beads? Please share your thoughts on this.