Waist beads, once regarded as traditional African adornments worn discreetly beneath clothing, are now a visible fashion ...

Aicha said she loves seeing more people embrace African culture. From the waist beads, to the head wraps to the traditional clothing patterns, it makes a community more unified.

Waist beads have been used for centuries in West African cultures as symbols of fertility, sexuality, and spirituality. Today, they have many practical and aesthetic uses around the world.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Traditional African garments and beads sparkle in Bendu Dukuly’s Bay Street boutique, only to be outmatched in luster by the shop owner’s enthusiasm.

The African bead museum was founded by Dabls in 1996 and was originally located inside the David A. Whitney Building in downtown Detroit. Two years later, he decided it was time for a change and ...