Life and Work with Isabella Asamoah

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Asamoah.

Isabella, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since the day I was born, I have worn beads on my body. In Ghana, where I grew up, and in many other cultures across Africa, ali dzonu (waist beads) along with other forms of body jewelry are important markers. Children are reared with beautiful, handcrafted jewelry that is sensitive to key elements of culture, tribal and familial identity, the developmental stage, social status, and the like. Body jewelry is a tangible aspect of the experiences of many Africans. More specifically, body jewelry allows for creative expression in the form of decorating the body.

When I was a young girl in Ghana, I was privileged to be socialized to hold and honor the practices of African body jewelry. My grandmother, the matriarch of my family and a leader in my community, taught me the importance of beads; especially of waist beads.

While wearing beads around the waist is common in many African cultures, it can be practiced by anyone. Children are often adorned with waist beads from birth and it is generally not until puberty when there are specific cultural and tribal expectations regarding their wear.

Being that Africans are oriented toward collectivism, the practices associated with body jewelry heavily centers around the community. Whenever we prepared for a celebration, my grandmother gathered the women and children to share beads and other ornaments. For example, during the festival of Hogbetsotso, a celebration of the Ewe’s people liberation from a cruel leader, we spent a considerable amount of time decorating our bodies. Beads were always the accent to our costumes. My grandmother brought out very special beads from her armoire and shared them with us. It was in these special and intimate space with my grandmother that I learned the most about my family’s history. While we strung or tied beads, I heard colorful stories about ancient queens and kings. I heard folk stories of trickster spider, Kweku Anansi and the goddess of the sea, Mami Wata. These are stories full of life lessons inspired by African experiences with pain and struggle; – joy and triumph; as well as love and war. These stories are literally the seeds that gave rise to Dzonu Goddxss.

Despite some years living in the US, removed from my grandmother, my mother continued and passed on the tradition of tying beads to both my sister and I. At some point, I also tied them for my sister. When I was in college, I shared the practice with some of the women I met and befriended.

Waist beads as a practice of body jewelry and decorating have remained with me because it is so intimately connected with my physical body and my development as a woman. Every time I go through the process of changing my beads, I perform a ritual. I intentionally create a space for me to be with my body and to honor it. I am reminded of what it means to be a woman and to live in a world that is inherently sexist. Waist beads are symbolic of the journey into womanhood. They are also symbolic of the interconnectedness of our struggles and experiences of injustice that is present in many of our stories. Waist beads keep me connected to my body and ultimately to others who practice wearing them.

Over the years, the practice of tying beads for myself and others led me to seriously consider sharing the practice of African body jewelry with my community here. Most importantly, there is great value in our ancestral traditions that we stand to lose: value for the community, value for women, value for femininity and creative expression. Dzonu Goddxss wishes to share these traditions of wearable African art with the international consumer to keep these practices alive.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road is never smooth; that’s the spirit of life. The hardest thing about being a small business owner is being responsible for the ins and out of operation all the while managing the challenges that come with an unpaved and rocky road. I am learning a lot along the way as I come into myself as an entrepreneur. The greatest lesson thus far, is taking ownership of myself and the gifts I have to offer.

Dzonu Goddxss as I am sharing it with you today is not the same Dzonu Goddxss that was conceived about a year ago, and that is okay. It is my hope that we will continue to evolve and actualize all that is envisioned for Dzonu Goddxss.

As women, we have to give ourselves and each other grace. I truly believe the greatest impact of our success are the doors we open for each other, especially other women in our community. Dzonu Goddxss is about empowering community members and nurturing all the gifts that we have to offer the world. There is strength in unity, and together we can do more than divided.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My work centers around the traditions of creative expression in the form of body decoration. At the core of Dzonu Goddxss is a curating adornment that displays the strength and value of femininity. As the name implies, Dzonu Goddxss deals with body ornaments made from beads. We are best known for our custom body armor and our lovely selection of traditional waist beads. Dzonu Goddxss is unique because we stay grounded in the African traditions and values that gave rise to it. My ancestral practices carefully focus on creating jewelry that invokes a deep sense of spirituality, pleasure and aesthetic value.

Body armors are my original creations consisting of waist chains, body chains, headpieces, and other body ornaments. This is my baby inside of Dzonu Goddxss. When people request a piece, I spend some time talking with them. I usually learn that they are in the process of a life transition and want a piece of jewelry to represent it. Some of the life transitions we have made pieces for include a set of waist chains for a bridal party, a set of bracelets for a family with a newborn, and a body armor to mark the healing process.

Dzonu Goddxss are also known for carrying a wide array of traditional African waist beads. These beads are made from clay and glass. They are also hand-washed before being threaded on 100% cotton. I use multiple strings to ensure durability and longevity in wear. I am able to perform tying for anyone, regardless of gender, age, and other social markers. For more functionality, I also make waist beads with clasps. These waist beads come pre-sized and can be customized, allowing for more versatile wear. Waist beads are used to tie cloth; maintain weight; increase sensuality and fertility; or simply, as body jewelry.

My sense of self as a black, queer woman deeply impacts what I create. When I meet with people and share my jewelry with them, I am essentially sharing pieces of who I am. I am deeply honored that people see value in me and what I create. That means that I have connected with some aspect of who they are. That is a truly a powerful connection.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Remember your why. Keep it sacred. Repeat.

Pricing:

• Customized Body Armor – $45+
• Traditional African Waist Beads + Tying Rites – $25 (includes two x waist)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shopdzonugoddxss.tamevivi.com/
• Phone: 3038347534
• Email: dzonugoddxss@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzonu.goddxss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dzonugoddxss/

          Image Credit:
Natasha Amiri @wildflowerwanders_, Jay Knapp @jayknapp_rise_up

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