Before money, these 8 items were used as currencies in pre-colonial Africa

An assortment of cowrie shells…Everything Soulful

Cowrie shells

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Although used throughout the continent of Africa, it is widely known to have been utilized in Western Africa.

The shells were used individually or strung together to equal a greater amount.

Cowrie shells were used in the Kingdom of Kongo and in West Africa up until the 20^th century. The Ghanaian currency, Cedi, is named after the cowry.