Saginaw Valley State University’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs teamed up with the African Student Association for an event titled ‘Waistbeads and Traditions’ this past Tuesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m.
The event, which lasted for 2 hours, was aimed at spreading cultural awareness to the SVSU community through crafts, as students were encouraged to make their own waist beads as they learned more about the history and significance of them via a brief introduction and lecture by ASA’s president and vice president, Ridweida Braimah and Esther Gariba.
Maddie Cummins, a sophomore Special Education major, attended the event.
“I love waist beads… I have 5 at home” Cummins said. “I came because I wanted to make my own,” Cummins continued, explaining the significance of waist beads to her.
“I was adopted at 2 years old from Liberia by a white family,” she stated. “I didn’t know much about the culture I came from so I started looking up waist beads. It made me feel closer to my culture and my family.”
Braimah and Gariba explained at the event how waist beads come in many forms, and offer spiritual protection and luck to those who wear them in several African Countries, marking the key difference betweens America’s use of them as a fashion item.
Gariba also explained some of the history of African waist beads, explaining how before glass beads were introduced, you could tell the region a person was from by the style of clay beads, along with shells and cowries that made up their waist beads.
Tamia Jones, OMSA’s Graduate assistant, and Mariah Baker, a senior communications major, were behind organizing the event.
“[We had to] reach out to ASA to collaborate and provide information about waist beads significance, get supplies, and make signage for the event,” Jones said. “We wanted to do an event that hadn’t been done before, and provide an opportunity for students to learn more about different cultures.”
OMSA’s next event will be a Loteria Night, where students are encouraged to attend, play games, win prizes, and donate to a feminine hygiene drive. More information is available on CORQ.
Carlie Smith 
Danielle Carlisi