Cowrie: An Ornament Of Treasure

COWRIES lost its original purpose but have maintained relevance due to the diverse ways it is put to use. Also in the memory of many generation and money museum, cowries were used as currency and a fragment of the past representing the journey of West Africa’s trade system ( Aniefiok Akpan ( 1993: pg129).

According to Bozman,( 1967: 141), the scientific name is Gastropod mollusca of the cypraeidac family. They are said to be originally small sea snails, with some of the larger forms being objects of great beauty. There are roughly two hundred ( 200) species of cowries in countries across the world but quite many in the Indian Ocean.

Initially, cowrie’s shells were used as a medium of exchange before the introduction of the coin. However, the displacement of its use as a currency by the coin pushed out its other relevance and importance which has made it popular and widely accepted by many. No wonder various Nigerian ethnic groups have vernacular names for this multipurpose object.

This write- up will refresh our memory on the various ways cowrie shells are used presently that has earned it a name “the ornament of treasure”.

Local Names For Cowries

Ethnic Group Local Names

Edo Igbigbo

Efik Mbaba

Fulani Edere

Hausa Wurin

Ibibio Mbaba

Igala Eyoku

Igbo Ego Ayoro ( Eze

Eyo)

Ijaw Okobatrou

Nupe Ewa

Urbobo Ibigho

Tiv Anyi Asoho Yoruba Owo Eyo • Source: Nigerian Heritage ( 1993) Aniefiok Akpan: pg. 129

Uses Of Cowrie Shells

Cowrie shells like seeds are commonly used for adornment during ceremonies. Many people particularly women wear strings of cowrie shells, around their neck, waist and across the chest as part of decorative costume for dancing during cultural festivities.

Some women and girls also attach cowrie shells to their plaited hair as a way of enhancing their beauty and this is universally manifest across the various ethnic groups in Nigeria, worthy of note is its use by the Hausa Fulani to decorate their hair and calabashes.

The Igbo use cowrie shells to decorate their local musical instrument and their masquerades come out with costumes heavily decorated with cowries giving them more beauty.

Some school of thought believes that fortified cowrie shells can bring wealth and also offer protection against evil spirits and bad energy. In most places in our society where hunting in still an occupation for many people, cowries are used in preparing charm and amulets which hunter decorate themselves with as they embark on their hunting expedition. No wonder the Yoruba use it to decorate their guns and hunting regalia.

Chobonaija. com has it that these precious ornaments of beauty are incorporated into the walls and ceilings of houses as part of the architectural design meant to ward off evil around the building.