Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana
The cowrie currency, the dominant medium of exchange in Ghana before the introduction of the West African Pound and, later, the Cedi, is now merely a vestigial relic in virtually all of modern Ghana except among the Dagaaba. This paper provides an insider's perspective on the economic importan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Africa Research Network
1995-12-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| Online Access: | https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/672 |
| _version_ | 1827827316533755904 |
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| author | Emmanuel Yiridoe |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Yiridoe |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Yiridoe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The cowrie currency, the dominant medium of exchange in Ghana before the introduction of the West African Pound and, later, the Cedi, is now merely a vestigial relic in virtually all of modern Ghana except among the Dagaaba. This paper provides an insider's perspective on the economic importance and on the unique role of the cowrie currency among the Dagaaba that explains its perpetual presence. Cultural uses create a derived demand for cowries. Government policies result in debasement of the cedi and, together with monetary characteristics of the cowrie, lead to competition between the cedi and the cowrie.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:25:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a07bc71d04d4d739ba9bb2b54d1aed4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1459-9465 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:25:42Z |
| publishDate | 1995-12-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Africa Research Network |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a07bc71d04d4d739ba9bb2b54d1aed42023-09-03T13:38:00ZengNordic Africa Research NetworkNordic Journal of African Studies1459-94651995-12-014210.53228/njas.v4i2.672Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern GhanaEmmanuel Yiridoe0University of Guelph The cowrie currency, the dominant medium of exchange in Ghana before the introduction of the West African Pound and, later, the Cedi, is now merely a vestigial relic in virtually all of modern Ghana except among the Dagaaba. This paper provides an insider's perspective on the economic importance and on the unique role of the cowrie currency among the Dagaaba that explains its perpetual presence. Cultural uses create a derived demand for cowries. Government policies result in debasement of the cedi and, together with monetary characteristics of the cowrie, lead to competition between the cedi and the cowrie. https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/672 |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Yiridoe Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| title | Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana |
| title_full | Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana |
| title_short | Economic and Sociocultural Aspects of Cowrie Currency of the Dagaaba of Northwestern Ghana |
| title_sort | economic and sociocultural aspects of cowrie currency of the dagaaba of northwestern ghana |
| url | https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/672 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emmanuelyiridoe economicandsocioculturalaspectsofcowriecurrencyofthedagaabaofnorthwesternghana |