Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - NTV Swahili news anchor, Fridah Mwaka, has opened up about the cultural and symbolic significance of waist beads, describing them as more than just beauty accessories.
Speaking during a live interview with Oga Obinna, Fridah
explained: “Shangaa
kiunoni ni urembo, lakini ukisha komaa kama mwanamke ziko na ujumbe.”
Translation: “Waist beads at the waist are beauty, but once
a woman matures, they carry a message.”
She revealed that different bead colors communicate specific
meanings within marriage.
Red beads signal that a woman is on her menstrual cycle and
needs space, while white beads indicate she feels clean and ready for intimacy.
Multicolored beads, she added, show happiness and vibrancy. “Ukivaa
shanga nyekundu kwa mume wako unamwonyesha kwamba uko kwa siku zako za hedhi…
ukivaa shanga nyeupe ni kuonyesha kwamba uko tayari… ukivaa shanga ambazo ziko
na rangi tofauti tofauti nikuonyesha yani uko sawa, unajiskia kama mtoto maua
maua,” she explained.
Fridah also noted that black beads communicate the need for
space: “Ukivaa
shanga nyeusi kaa kando sii leo.”
She emphasized that waist beads are part of African culture
and can communicate without words.
“Shanga ni utamaduni… shanga itakuambia. Alafu pia ni urembo,”
she said.
Beyond intimacy, she highlighted their practical use in
monitoring weight, since beads tighten when one gains weight and loosen when
one loses it.
However, she cautioned against misuse, stressing that waist
beads are intimate adornments not meant for public display.
“Ndio maana shanga hazifai kuonekana ovyoovyo… hizi ni shanga za
ndani ni urembo wako. Mimi shanga sikosi lakini siyo ya watu wengi,”
she concluded.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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