African Waist Beads are a symbol of culture, beauty, femininity, sensuality, protection, and wealth.  Typically only the partner a woman chooses would have the honor of seeing them fully and are worn as a right of passage. The bright colors of beads and stones have various meanings and are used to take on healing or rejuvenation qualities. Waist beads can also be used as a form of weight management. When gaining weight the belt of the beads climbs up and when you lose weight, they drop elegantly hugging the hips.