Waist beads are decorative beads worn around the waist or hips. They have a long history dating back to ancient Africa where women wore them as a symbol of femininity, fertility, and beauty. Many African cultures also used waist beads for communication between women, indicating marital, sexual, or social status. Waist beads were also believed to have healing and spiritual properties, and were used in traditional medicine and spiritual practices. Today, women all over the world wear waist beads as a form of self-expression, body adornment, and personal empowerment.