Gender
Value of African beads and its importance in the Ghanaian society
Have you ever thought of the beauty of African beads and how it heightens the beauty of the body when worn? Or has it ever occurred to you why a king sits majestically in his palanquin with different types of beads around his neck, hands and legs during festivals and durbars?
How about the numerous beauty pageants which aim at projecting the African value through the contestants?
Well, the answer is so simple, these demonstrate the creativity, cultural heritage and the taste we have for our own products.
Typically, in Africa, and to be precise, Ghana, the history of Ghanaian beads dates back to ancient times when they were first used as the king’s currency for the exchange of slaves, textiles and alcohol.
Later on, they became popular in ancient times for the rituals of girls. Today, they are as valuable as foreign exchange earners, and serve as tourist attractions. The modern-day woman, both African and non-African, is rediscovering the beauty of these Ghanaian beads which have become popular today.
Colours and meaning
Speaking to Miss Elizabeth Acquah, a professional in the field of bead making, she explained that the colours of Ghanaian beads have meaning. She said, in certain parts of Ghana, white coloured beads evoke fertility; blue coloured ones are associated with purity; while golden beads are a symbol of wealth.
She further said, ‘Bodom’ beads are yellow with a diamond shape design of a darker colour such as blue and were traditionally produced to be worn exclusively by African chiefs. Once you know what the colours of your beads symbolise, wearing them becomes a personal experience.
But in today’s world, beads have become very fashionable and can be worn by anyone at any time to anywhere, depending on the function.
Today, the importance cannot be spelt out in our Ghanaian society as they play significant roles in projecting our cultural values.
Apart from it being worn on the waist, and worn by chiefs and royals, it can also be worn anytime to any occasion. It can go with nice African print dress or any other nice outfit to church, outdoorings, festivals, weddings and any event. Beads are also used in making foot wears, handbags, earrings and necklace.
Sexual Appeal
It is believed that a woman in waist beads is sexually appealing to men. Most African men love to see their women in beads. Most of them have also admitted that seeing a woman in waist beads turns them on. They love to play with it as their women lay in their arms or during sexual activities as well.
Some women also wear specific beads during sex to send a message to their partners. In the Ashanti and Krobo cultures of Ghana, large beads or bells are added to a woman’s waist beads once she is fertile so she makes noise when she walks to alert potential suitors and this serves as a symbol of femininity.
Body Shapers
Waist beads serve as a natural waist trainer for some women. Wearing of beads can easily tell an African woman whether she is gaining or losing weight. If you were to gain weight, the beads will sit higher on the waist or feel tighter, conversely, if you were to lose weight, the beads will feel loose and fall further down to the hips. Waist beads can be worn all day, every day.
Traditional Practices (Rites of Passage)
There is a belief that beads improve a woman’s curves. Hence, African baby girls are made to wear beads to enhance their curves and also to give them shape as they reach their adolescent stage.
Also, beads are used to mark family status, especially on special occasions such as rites of passage of girls to puberty called ‘dipo’ practised by the Krobos.
Beads can also convey identity and cultural significance. For instance, if a woman is married or a man is a warrior or an elder, the beads on them will indicate it. Large and colourful beads symbolise wealth and social status. Blue beads are thought to enhance fertility.
Healing and Meditation
Some people also believe that waist beads have some healing and protective charms that keep danger away. They are said to relieve people from stress, anxiety or relax the nerves during pregnancy.
Heritage and Pride
Beads are the fundamental part of the Ghanaian heritage. Not only do they testify of the vibrance of the Ghanaian creativity, they also play a significant role in the country’s history, rituals and culture. Sometimes, the waist beads are just a show of love for the Ghanaian and African heritage at large.
Maturity and Growth
For many communities, girls put on beads to signify their transition from adolescent into womanhood.
To conclude, beads play an important role in our Ghanaian society, so anytime you think of heightening your image in various ways, think about beads. And note that every African bead conveys pride, beauty, culture, power and identity.
By Jennifer Nyarko
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
