“Whoever is patient with a cowrie shell will one day have thousands of them” — Hausa proverb
In our first article, we spoke on the history of the negative perception of African artefacts, including cowries. Today we demystify the cowry, answering the questions; what are they really? And why do we adorn ourselves with them?
The presence of cowries in Africa can be traced back as early as the 8th century. They came from the Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean to West Africa through North Africa to the Middle Niger in the 11th Century, spreading southwards to the Guinea forest and then to Niger Delta. There were two types of Cowries in circulation at the time. Cypraea annulus, a larger species, which was preferred in the West while the East was more inclined to a smaller species called Cypraea moneta. Both are species of sea snails, a marine gastropod mollusk in the Cypraeidae family called Monetaria moneta. In Nigeria, cowries are called different things in different languages. The Igbos call the large cowries Nwefe or Okpokpo, which cost one-third of the smaller ones called Ayola. The Yorubas call it owoeye, the Fulanis call it Sedere and in Bini, it is called Bosjes or Igvo.
The shape of a cowrie is reminiscent of the female body. The top that swells outward is the curve of a pregnant belly. The slit you see in the cowrie can look like a black pupil against the white surface. It is used to drive the evil eye. This is one of the reasons why the Ori of Yoruba are represented in cowries.
While commonly narrowed to spiritual uses, and viewed as fetish items, cowries have held a variety of uses and applications over the course of history as described below.
Protection and Divination
Cowries were used to prepare many charms and amulets which were worn on the battlefield by warriors. Hunters adorned themselves in cowries as they embarked on hunting trips. Even during peaceful periods, cowries were used to ward off aggression from forces of darkness. Priests and priestesses would often use cowries to adorn their hair too.
Cowries are inserted into the walls and floors of houses as part of the architectural design to ward off evil. If you have ever been to Wole Soyinka’s house in Egba, Abeokuta, cowries as part of a house’s structure would be familiar to you.
If you are Nigerian, you must have watched at least one film with traditional priests sitting in a room, legs crossed yoga style on a mat, throwing a handful of cowries to the floor. The number of cowries thrown is not random. It depends on the diviner and their traditional beliefs. In some Yoruba cultures, sixteen cowries are used because it was the initial number of Orishas, Eledumare sent to look after the earth. When the cowries fall, the diviner interprets the pattern. The positions they take when they land is used to tell the future, whether facing up or facing down. This is known as Odu. It is used to ask the Orisha spirits for advice and guidance. Items like kola nuts and fragments of bones are also used.
Communication
Cowries were also used to communicate within the Yorubaland. Before westernization, Aroko was an accepted means of communication. Aroko involved the exchange of messages from one person to another. These messages were sometimes secret and sent through an unsuspecting messenger. Things like gunpowder, combs, calabash, feathers were used with cowries to pass messages from person to person. It was especially common among kings, village heads, warriors, traditionalists, and herbalists. Both the sender and receiver must be versed in the language of Aroko for the messages to resonate.
Ajisafe pointed out the multiple ways cowries were used in Aroko. For instance, If eight cowries were sent to a person, it meant that they were free from danger. If a king sent a cowrie pierced with a piece of wood to a man, it meant that he was to be ostracized. The pierced shell meant that his actions had threatened the peace of the community. If a king sent cowries along with a horse tail to another king, it meant that he wanted them to come together and act as one for peaceful co existence.
Healing
Cowries were also used as medicine. If a pregnant woman’s placenta was not positioned right, the solution included a calabash, bitter leaves and cowries. The leaves were crushed to extract the water. The water would then be placed in the calabash with seven cowries. It was believed that as the woman drank from the potion, the placenta would be shift into its rightful position.
As Currency
Cowries evolved into currency in the 15th century, alongside beads, silver coins, gold dust, salt bars, copper rods, and horse-shaped manillas. The real reign of cowries as sole currency form began in the 18th century. It was recognized as a means of payment as well as a symbol of wealth and power until the 20th century. The cowrie was the first pan-regional currency used in the whole West African sub-region. During the transAtlantic commerce, it was the most imported material to Yorubaland because of its importance as opposed to other currencies available at the time.
In the book When Things Fall Apart by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, there are many references to the gifts of cowries, cowries for payment, and cowries as indicators of wealth. In one scene in Achebe’s book, Okonkwo and other leaders of the village of Umuofia were held in jail and would not be released until a fine of 200 cowries plus 50 cowries for the court messengers was paid for each prisoner.
For easier accessibility, cowries were held together on a string of forties that were made into bracelets. This way, twenty strings could represent a dollar. Bigger quantities were packed in pouches.
According to Cultures of West Africa, Cowries were often heaped into baskets for larger payments. 2000 cowries made 50 strings and 20000 cowries made one bag.
Although most of the trading done within the communities were more of exchanges than transactions. A hoe for a basket, farming for a nice meal. Trade by barter. The larger scaled trading was done by Hausa. (side eyeing those who claim that the Igbos spearheaded large-scale trading in Nigeria). In 1850, A German explored Heinrich Barth found that cowries had spread through Kano, Borno in Nigeria, around the river Niger and Mali. He said that in Muniyoma in Borno, the revenue of the king was about 30 million cowries. Every adult male in Muniyoma was required to pay a thousand cowries every year, another thousand for every pack-ox and two thousand for every slave in his possession.
For the longest time, the cowrie seemed perfect. It served as a store of value as well as a standard of value and a medium of exchange. In the year 2000, Ogundiran explained that the cowrie was accepted in Yorubaland for three reasons. First, because there was an existing centralized system of government. Secondly, because there were market control and supervision by the political class. Finally, because it was extremely difficult to make a fake cowrie. The already existing system of government and market regulations may have given way to the adoption of a pan-African social currency while the cowrie, with its difficulty to duplicate is believed to have paved the way to standardized currency forms in Africa.
An Islamic historian once talked about the man who received a large payment in cowries and eventually lost the money because of the cost involved in transporting the cowries to his house. This feature led to the death of the cowrie currency. Although, this death was not unaided by colonization. Although cowries as currency are now considered a thing of the past, In Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, people still give cowries as alms to the poor. Tribes across West Africa still pay for ritual services using cowries.
For modern, enduring use of cowries, we can look at the Ghanaian Cedi. Cedi is an akan name for cowrie. In 1991, the coin carried a picture of the cowrie. Also, the headquarters of The West African Central Bank in Benin is heavily decorated in cowries. Til today the white shells are a symbol of wealth. We love it when Africans stand by their roots.
Throughout Africa and the Americas, the cowrie symbolized the power of destiny and prosperity. Rows of shells have been attached to masks that symbolize great wealth and the Royals have worn clothes adorned with them for eons.
For the Royals amongst us, we created a line of products adorned in cowries.
Oshun jewelry — These are a set of cowries strung together as earrings, bracelets and anklets. Nothing like carrying a prayer around. (Read about the goddess here).
Cowries totes — A variety of black and blue denim totes adorned in cowries.
Ibori visors — The ibori symbolizes the ‘inner head’, that is the individual’s personal destiny. When prayers are close, Ibori will always be pleased and pleasing. These visors are available in bright colors that have no problem blending with multiple fits.
Cowrie tees — Black and army green T-shirts designed with cowries.
Thank you for reading to the end, we appreciate you. To win this pretty Oshun anklet, which bears 8 white and gold cowries, share this article on twitter and/or instagram, be sure to tag us @artxjuju. Multiple entries increase your chances and the more visible, the better your chances of winning!
Terms and conditions: Must be in Nigeria to win, entries close 15/05
