Cowrie & the Trans-Atlantic slave trade

Did you know that cowrie shells were once currency? For centuries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, & Oceania; the cowrie was more than just a shell, more than a symbol of wealth, power, & protection...it was currency. The journey from shell to currency begins with a species of sea snails (  belonging to the Cypraeidae family ) that are native to the Indian & Pacific Ocean. Along these coasts are an abundance of shells that descend from the Cypraeidae sea snails. These shells are what we know as Cowrie. Because of their beauty, durability, & difficulty to counterfeit, they became a medium of exchange.

The use of cowrie as currency dates back to the Shang Dynasty in ancient China & the Mali Empire in West Africa. As early as the 8th century, cowrie shells were introduced to West Africa through Arab traders. They were initially cherished & used for adornment, as talismans, & in sacred ceremonies. By the 16th century, cowrie shells were more than currency; they represented power in trade & became a driving force behind the trans Atlantic slave trade. The demand for cowries increased significantly with the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade. European traders began importing massive quantities of cowries directly to West Africa to facilitate the trading of goods, including enslaved humans. By the 18th century, cowrie shells were the most prominent form of currency in many parts of West Africa. The Kingdom of Dahomey ( modern Benin ) was known for its powerful precolonial economy, which was supported by the currency system based on cowrie shells. It is said that King Gezo ( King of Dahomey ) preferred cowries to gold because they were a more reliable form of payment. Unlike gold, Cowrie shells were difficult to counterfeit. However, with the mass importation of Zanzibar cowrie; (which are of lesser value) the currency became incredibly devalued & replaced with low-value coins. The introduction of colonial currencies gradually led to the ultimate decline of cowries as a primary form of currency. They disappeared almost completely, only to re-emerge during times of scarcity ( ex: WW1 & The Great Depression ) & have been found occasionally in the markets of remote frontier districts up until the 1960s.

Although the use of cowrie as currency has vanished ...The impact of the cowrie shell as currency is still symbolically relevant. The word "Cedi" which means cowrie, is the name of the current currency in Ghana. In China, many symbols relating to money & trade contain the character for cowrie. It is quite amazing how the shell of a sea snail became one of the oldest & influential forms of currency in history.