Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadine Afolabi.
Hi Nadine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Nadine Ingabire Afolabi, I was born and raised in Rwanda till the age of 10; then moved to France with my family as political asylum seekers. I moved to the US in August 2013 while finishing my MBA in Finance from Laval University in Canada. I initially lived in New Jersey, and California, then relocated to the DFW area in January 2020, right before the Covid Pandemic. I didn’t know anyone outside of my workplace and it was tough to meet new people and make friends, due to lockdowns. During this time, I had time to think about the direction my life was taking, where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to improve to be happy and more fulfilled.
When starting Mariza Jewelry, I wanted to focus on something that I love and was able to comfortably talk about. While growing up in Rwanda and France, I used to enjoy making jewelry from beads. I loved making bracelets, necklaces, and rings with different patterns and colors. As a teenager, I remember exchanging patterns with one of my friends who were also into beaded jewelry.
Mariza Jewelry has been a kind of back to my roots experience. In the African culture, beads are a symbol and celebration of womanhood, sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, body shaping, first menses, protection, seduction, and wealth, amongst other things. Besides, wearing beads on one’s waist looks beautiful! With encouragement from my husband, my family, and friends, I decided to start my business in 2021. My first event was on Juneteenth 2021, when I was able to sell directly to customers. Since then, I set up an Instagram account and website which customers can order from. Once business picks up, I would love to expand the Mariza Jewelry brand to make bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and rings.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I had encouragement from my family and friends along the way. Specifically my husband, Oluwaseun, who has been my number one supporter and is always eager to help me and give me advice when needed. It is thanks to his help that I’m able to focus on Mariza Jewelry while still having a demanding career in Finance.
The most challenging aspect right now is marketing my business and building customer engagement. Word of mouth has been the best source of customers. I do some door-to-door sales through my regular customers, but I would like to build an active presence on social media platforms.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The name “(a)Mariza” from Kinyarwanda represents compassion, creativity, reliability, generosity, loyalty, and love. Mariza Jewelry is a brand that sells African waist beads. Waist beads are originally tied to African and Egyptian cultures dating back to the 15th century. Historically waist beads were used as a health remedy in some cultures. They were used to cure kidney ailments, thus why they were worn on the waist. They can also be a symbol of femininity, chastity, sexuality, and spirituality. In recent years, waist beads have been used to control weight gain, acting as a tracker for your fitness goals.
Mariza Jewelry waist beads are sourced from Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya. We offer a variety of glass and crystal waist beads that can be tied on and others with clasp closure. Our waist beads come in multiple colors that suit everyone’s style. We also offer custom-made products by order. At Mariza Jewelry, we aim to celebrate the African culture by bringing authentic products to the US market. Wearing waist beads enhances the beauty of a woman’s body and curves. Our goal is to make women aware of the power of their sexuality. We want women to feel confident, feminine, sexy, and love their waistline regardless of their weight and size.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending quality time with people I love makes me very happy. I have lived in different countries (Rwanda, France, Canada, and the US) and 3 states New Jersey, California, and Texas, so my family and closest friends are spread all over. I enjoy the times I get to spend with them, and those memories will always be cherished. Having a positive impact in other people’s life also makes me very happy. Whether it be by what I do, say, or the time spent together. My wish is that Mariza Jewelry will make a positive impact on women’s life.
Lately, I have been enjoying gardening; I find peace in watching vegetables grow from seeds or tiny buds to plants and produce food for my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marizajewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmariza_jewelry/
Image Credits
Jay Stork
