03/03/2025
The Metamorphosis of Cowrie Shells
Cowrie shells are not originally from Africa. They are mainly found in the Indian Ocean, primarily in the Maldives. It was through trans-saharan trade and European Merchant that they got to West Africa.
Even the name "Cowrie" or "Cowry" is not an English word, its origins lie in Hindi कौड़ी (kauṛī). In Hindi, "cowry" translates to sea snails. This is because Cowry is a sea animal.
Cowrie shells moved from being simple sea snail shells to becoming money used for buying and selling. Then, from being used as money, it became jewellery and ornaments. From jewellery, it became a symbol or an insignia of an African man and his tradition. From a symbol of African tradition, it became a charm or a juju for protection and intimidation.
It is the part where it became a charm I am still trying to decipher. Since when did cowries get that power? Today, by the mere fact of knitting cowry shells into a black or red cloth and placing them in front of someone's house or tying them on a tree, everybody will start running away and looking for OlyGoes Faya to shout.
Men and women now wear them to show they are fortified or spiritually strong as they walk around wearing shells on their necks feeling proud when what they are wearing are just the shells of snails. . . That is, if they even buy the original one and not the fake plastic type that has now saturated the market due to demand.
