Meet Folami Mirembe of First Tribe in Inglewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Folami Mirembe.

Folami, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My company First Tribe initially started out, in 2016, as a thought of going into a business for Tribal face painting which quickly transitioned, in 2017 to a jewelry business that specializes in AfriKan inspired, healing adornments. One day, while sitting at home, I received a calling from my ancestors through my actions. I got up, drove to Michael’s and purchased $150.00 worth of beads, wire, findings (jewelry closures) and semiprecious stones. Being obedient to their calling, I began making Afrikan inspired necklaces and bracelets, I never made jewelry nor had a desire to, prior to this. I posted a necklace on Instagram, began getting inquires, immediately began making jewelry for sale and created my Instagram business page.

While studying different types of Afrikan jewelry, I discovered that jewelry in Afrika is seldom just ornamental, they have some ritual, ceremonial or religious tie to them. Shortly after starting my business, I got a request from a friend to make her a waist bead, which began my journey of making traditional tie on Afrikan waist beads (they are tied on and are not removed unless they are cut off or are broken off). I made hers and decided that I would only create one of a kind waist beads. I never duplicate the ones that I make. By doing so, it is comforting to my Tribe sisters (what I call my clients because we truly bond and connect like sisters, through the waist beads), to know that no one has the same waist bead they do. (Unless it is a single-colored strand i.e., all black, etc.).

Waist beads can be traced backed to 15th Century Ancient Egypt. They are healing adornments worn on the waist of Afrikan tribal women made from seeds, glass beads or crystals, are worn for many reasons and varies amongst the different tribes. They are worn as a rite of passage for young girls when they start their menstrual cycle, which is a coming of age/ introduction to womanhood adornment. In Ghana, babies are traditionally adorned with a strand during their naming ceremony, after birth. The women of the Asante and the Krobo tribes wear them with bells attached so that when they walk through the village, the men hear the bells and it informs them that the women are virgins and suitors for marriage. They are also worn to display a women’s economic status within her tribe. For the women who are seeking assistance with fertility, they adorn their waists with certain traditional tribal beads, that aid in obtaining pregnancy. Waist beads can also be associated with lingerie due to their sensual significance. Men love them!

The wearing of waist beads has become very popular by Afrikan women of the Diaspora as a form of waste management and weight management. It also is a connection to our ancestry, cultural traditions. Each one is made specifically and uniquely to the individual woman wearing them. Waist beads are worn by women of all different shapes and sizes and are used as a gauge to see if they are gaining or losing weight without getting on the scale which makes them more compatible with body positivity and allowing women to be more aware and loving to their body. They are a mindfulness tool. They make you aware of your stomach and mindful of what you eat, how much you eat and when to stop eating, just by how they feel on your body. The string of beads are worn around their waists to monitor if they lose weight, if so, the beads will drop meaning lay lower on their abdomen or waist and if they gain weight, the beads will rise and feel tighter on your abdomen. They make you aware of your posture and serve as a reminder to sit up straight. Semiprecious stones/crystals can be added to aid in healing certain illnesses/ailments through their specific properties. Traditionally Afrikan women do not show their beads to the world. They are worn privately under their clothes and no one knows they have them. They are only shown to their husbands.

Waist beads have become my number one selling adornment, I have women from all over the country contact me to create these wonderful healing adornments for them. They serve as a stylistic expression of their femininity. When I am contacted to create a waist bead, I do a free consultation where I inquire what is their reason for wanting to wear a waist bead, what they are seeking as far as color of beads (all colors have meaning) and if they want crystals/stones or charms on them? Once their adornment is created, I ship it to them if they are not local and if they are local, I provide an intimate personalized tying ceremony where after I tie the string, I have them set their intentions as I burn the ends of the string. This helps them connect with their adornment.

I recently traveled to Ghana, Afrika and sourced some of their traditional Waist beads for the women that want a connection from the Motherland. My visit to Afrika has inspired me to create necklaces, bracelets and waist beads with beads from Ghana. I am currently adorned with 13 waist beads. I tie mine on whenever I have gone through a memorable life experience. I have no specific number as to when I will stop adding them so I will continue to endlessly add more and more. I have been told by my many of my Tribe sisters, that they are very addicting, that to which I agree and I must admit it is a wonderful addiction to have! I quickly became an Afikan inspired artisan.

Has it been a smooth road?
My journey has been very rewarding spiritually and lucratively. I have not encountered any struggles or difficulties and I love it!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with First Tribe – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
First Tribe is an all things tribal business. I create beautiful, handcrafted Afrikan inspired adornments for men, women, children/babies. My specialty is Afrikan Tribal Waist beads. I am most proud of being able to assist so many women of the diaspora, who have begun to embrace this ancient Afrikan tradition. What sets me apart from the others is my amazing positive energy that I put into each adornment and I hold space for healing for each Tribe sister and each waist bead that I create for her. What also sets me apart is that I create one of a kind waist beads, I do not duplicate. So every woman that I adorn gets a waist bead designed specifically for her and no one else will have the same one.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like the many hiking trails that are available. I least like the traffic.

Contact Info:

• Email: FirstTribeCompany@gmail.com
• Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/firsttribe_1
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/firsttribe1

Image Credit:
Folami Mirembe, Shara Tiffani

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