Collection: Girl With the Cowrie Shaped Eyes
Traditionally, cowries symbolize wealth, femininity, fertility, and protection, and they play a vital role in offerings, rituals, adornments, and various other practices. In Yoruba cosmology, cowries represented more than just currency; they were regarded as the eyes of the Orishas. Over time, cowries have transcended their traditional significance, evolving into “trendy” accessories favored by those who follow brands and billionaires that adopt them solely for their aesthetic appeal and monetary gain. To me, the holy cowrie is a reminder of patience and perseverance in the face of a violent white supremacist reality, symbolic because I wear my ancestors prayers with me and carry their energy reminding me to reach beyond what I can often times fathom.
“Whoever is patient with a cowrie shell will one day have thousands of them” -Hausa Proverb
