Evil Beads

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Beads are often strung in a ticklish ralphia cord, they tend to be rather large beads with big perforated holds, the beads are round or oval shape, white opalescent and blue annular beads, mostly blue short drawn beads, in shades of blue.

Beads are often strung in a ticklish ralphia cord, they tend to be rather large beads with large holds, the beads are round or oval shape, white and shades of blue. They may come strung on ralphia in bunches for currency. Beads may be on a long multiple string as a woman’s waistband, white, turquoise, light-blue and royal or navy blue were the favorite colors

The Fali, Adamawa and Dowayo: Of Northern Nigeria and Cameroon, a man will make a doll for his bride to ensure her fecundity; The doll is put in a corner of the house after the first child’s birth. The dolls were made of corn cob and adorner with beads others are more naturalistic. Beads corsets and back skirts were worn by women during festival; the people went out to the bush to cut grass for their chief’s horses and held the dance on their return only local people could take part in the festivals.

Basis Use of Beads in Ghana

Beads play a very important roles in the social and culture lifestyle of our people, when beads are used attention is paid to their shape, size, designs, color and material. In everyday life women men and children wear beads, made from stones,

bone, wood, ivory, iron, glass etc. Beads are visibly displayed around the neck, wrist, waist, ankles, arms, finagles, head and clothing.

Female may wear beads on one part of the body for a lifetime example female begins to use waist beads from early childhood. The Ghanaian myth said that a bead was put in water and giving to the accused to swallow should he or she tell a lie the bead would choke and kill him or her. Some

believed that magic could be transferred from strangers usually from an older woman to a younger one in the form of a bead as a gift. Female knew that waist beads help form their body into a particular shape and adult women wear beads to sexually stimulate the male.

Puberty

For females to be initiated into adulthood among certain ethnic group they must go thought puberty rituals, these series of initiations comprise of instructions and games. culminating with the adornment of beads, worn around the wrist, neck, waist, arms and legs. These beads represent new status of girl’s families.

Pregnancy

The Ghanaian was aware of the power or danger of Nyama before birth. Therefore beads and fetishes were used to protect against the powder of Nyama doing pregnancy charms and amulets are worn on the wrist, ankle, neck and waist. The

pregnant woman wear colorful beads until the baby is borne the babies are adorn with armlet and legless made from ralphia, for protection, before the child is a brought outside of the house, on the day of the naming celebration, beads mixed with other charms, replace the armlets and legless.

Mother ties beads at the major joints of the child, their waist, wrist, leg and neck she is particular about this especially when the child is a girl. One other reason why babies are adorn with beads at the waist is to enable mom to monitor the growth rate of the child. If the string of beads are Loose mom will know that all is not well with her child. This technique was practiced thru out Africa