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

An assortment of cowrie shells…Everything Soulful

Cowrie shells

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.