Cowries and Tradition

Tsk tsk tsk! We simply have lost it, totally have, I blame no one but our individual selves. Scoffs. We now associate cowries to fetishism and diaboli?? Call our own which we are supposed to uphold BACKWARD and PRIMITIVE. Oh Lord!

Prior to 1800 century ago when Africans were captured and taken to the 'New World' to work on plantations for the advancement of that Continent, Africans especially Nigerians had culture; dignity; tradition and they took great pride in it, our ways were organised with communal structure until the landings of the Whites on Black shores. With their presence came brainwashing of our roots and birthright, they succeeded in bringing Christianity aka 'righteous' religion a ploy to controlling our minds while they siphoned our wealth. Visual pictures of heaven (bliss) were painted as this was a tool to weaken any form of revolt that might spring up when we discover the exploitation, we were sapped physically of our strength to the enrichment of their lands, spiritually of our worship to mirages of peace, mentally of reasoning to a false belief of superior complexity, and socially of communal living to the disintegration of and enmity in brotherhood and individualism. We celebrate the many things brought us by colonialism - technology, education, religion et al - be unknown to us we were actually once upon a time the leading continent in civilisation (Egypt) until the hijack in power and a loss in focus...

       Why my vent? 

Below is a picture taken by Miz Conquer, on her wall, she posts pictures and is on a journey to resurrecting the African Heritage and pride in tradition. She is called Deity - a name for gods or goddesses - and her pictures mirrors the name with craft. Recently, she had pictures littered on her wall, these pictures have her in a hairdo covered in Cowries. The pathetic of all are the responses of Nigerians, the very savage replies coming from the composed words of these blinded brethren...if only I could disappear, I would give each degrading reply / comment a paralytic slap or worse turn them to worms. I ultimately am disappointed at them especially replies associating the Cowries to spiritism...thanks to Nollywood for their stupidity and heavy logs in their eyes so much as to focus only on the negative rather than the positive.

Asides using the cowries as adornment or fashion, it serves or signifies more than the two normals we know it to be, first, the cowries in the old days shows class distinction - the rich Vs the poor. second, it is for beauty and only the rich could afford them. If you were seen wearing one, you automatically have a name and are known to be among the elite. Third, it was legal tender, a means of transaction. Fourth, for divination,priests made use of the cowries to communicate with the other world, why? Because gods or spirits see this instrument as (I) sacred, and (II) fellowship - through the constant use of the cowries then, each holder released an energy which formed a link, communal link which made it easy to delve into the ancestral world. Fifth, identity, West Africans are worldly known for the cowries and we are marked by it. It showcases cultural heritage and rich tradition. Sadly, we are ashamed of it and we bastardised its symbol and uniqueness. Sixth, fertility, this is where the Obanje wahala comes to play, oh yes, the cowries was a symbol of fertility. It was believed that a barren woman who wears one drew the sympathy of children.

Enough of the abuse of the instrument and shortsightedness, it is bad already if not 'badest'. A change of view and mental sensitization should be carried out until we fully come to one with almost forgotten history as we retrace disappearing footprints. As for the question which some might ask on the service or worship to wooden gods since the cowries is one of its symbol, my answer is this, enjoy the religion left by the Whites but we should never forget tradition, we can do this by elevating the richness of Africa as Africans, this way we preserve culture.