The Story of Cowries in Africa: More Than Just a Shell

When you think of Africa’s rich history, symbols of power, beauty, and trade quickly come to mind and few objects capture all three like the cowrie shell. These small, glistening treasures once shaped entire economies, adorned royalty, and still whisper stories of connection across continents and generations.

A Currency Before Coins

Long before paper bills and minted coins, cowrie shells served as one of Africa’s most important forms of currency. Originating from the Indian Ocean particularly the Maldives — cowries made their way across trade routes into Africa as early as the 8th century. Once they arrived, they became much more than a medium of exchange: they became a symbol of wealth itself.

In regions like West Africa, massive transactions from buying land to arranging marriages were conducted using cowries. Some African kingdoms, like the Mali Empire, adopted cowries as an official currency. Historical records even show entire caravans transporting sacks of cowries across the Sahara Desert.

The cowrie was so significant that it was often called "the money of the ancestors."

A Symbol of Power and the Sacred

Beyond trade, cowries took on deep spiritual meaning. Their shape smooth, rounded, with a slit resembling an eye made them sacred objects in many African spiritual traditions. They were believed to hold the power of fertility, prosperity, and protection.

In many cultures, they were worn by kings, queens, warriors, and priests. A person adorned in cowries was someone of status, strength, or spiritual importance. To this day, cowries still feature prominently in ceremonies, divination practices, and cultural attire, signifying a direct link to ancestral power.

Cowries Across the Atlantic

Sadly, the cowrie’s history is also intertwined with the transatlantic slave trade. European traders used cowries to buy enslaved Africans, weaving a dark chapter into the otherwise proud story of the shell. Cowries thus became a complex symbol representing not just wealth and spirituality, but also the memory of displacement and resilience.

Today: A Living Legacy

Today, cowries continue to inspire designers, artists, and historians across the African diaspora. Whether stitched into garments, worn as jewelry, or incorporated into modern art, they remain a bridge between past and present a way to honor African heritage and tell stories that are still unfolding.

At Matue Couture, every cowrie used in our designs is a quiet tribute: to those who came before us, to the journeys they've endured, and to the beauty that continues to bloom across generations.