Join us for a fun, Creative, educational and meditative bead making workshop with the talented Wawi Amasha of @mami.afrika. Create your own waist beads that can be used as a necklace, bracelet, anklet, hairline tie or belt using Wawi's collection of beautiful African and trade beads.

(Great activity for girlfriends, mothers and daughters)

$30 for materials

February 15th, 2014
2-5 PM
Bowthwell Arts Center
2466 8th St, Livermore, CA 94550


"Waist beads are an age old African tradition. They are worn for vast reasons and purposes to celebrate femininity, healing, spirituality, power, balancing, attracting and keeping a mate, rites of passage, rejuvenation, initiations, first menses, energy, and body shaping. African women have traditionally worn waist beads beneath their clothing placed beneath the belly button and can be single or multiple strands. In ancient Egypt, waist beads were called “girdles.

Women of all ages and sizes wear waist beads!
When you add stones, waist beads take on healing qualities.
Depending on ailment or what needs to be enhanced, various semi-precious stones can be included in the design of your waist beads.

It’s only now in modern times, that waist beads are becoming more visible.
Think of them as colorful strands of femininity -- vibrant glass or clay beads, gemstones, pieces of horn, shells and sometimes gold or silver fittings, strung together by hand and tailored to embrace a woman's individual midsection.

Waist Beads are multi-purpose. They can be used as a necklace, bracelet, anklet, hairline tie, belt, and a favorite of mine, they are great weight regulators." 
--Wawi Amasha

Join us at the Bothwell every Tuesday, starting March 11th from 7:30-8:30 for an hour of African movement. This 10 week series will offer a combination of dancing to live drumming or music on CD. This class is open to all levels, so come on down and shake your tail feather as you pick up some traditional African movements. We will feature occasional surprise guest teachers, so your best bet will be to come to all the classes!

Contact us at info@chezanami.org for questions or call us at 925-398-3827

Cost: $15 drop in or $120 for a 10 class punch card

February features Mohamed Lamine Bangoura, a professional/master drummer originally from Guinea, now an Oakland resident as he shares his open heart and joyful music in February 16th 3-6pm at the Bothwell in our monthly community drum circle. 

Cost: Free

Bring your own drum or instrument of choice for the drum circle portion or borrow one of ours. Note:Barefoot dancing, wear comfortable clothing you can dance in.





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