Waist beads are adornments or decorative pieces made from cowries, precious shells, beads, pearls, or small metal strung onto a wire or fish line(not the one used for fishing). These waist beads come in different lengths, waist sizes, colours, and shapes and could be worn in single strands or multiple strands as they sit beautifully on the waist of the wearer. In Nigeria, waist beads were worn as a sign of spirituality, femininity, sensuality, growth, and fertility in the olden days. When i migrated here i stopped wearing them for a while, because where i lived at the time there werent many people that looked like me. And i was told to act a certain way so i  can fit in. i started wearing it again daily about 2 years ago, and it fits me more and i can feel the difference. The ones i used to wear as a kid obviously dont fit me anymore so i got them resized and now because my weight fluctuates so does the way it fits me 

– joy

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child