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Cowrie Shells
v6a

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From: "HappyShel" <happy@drums.org>

The other day, I was in 7-11 and one of the clerks noticed my cowrie shell necklace and said, "your necklace is so beautiful. Do you know what it is?"

We engaged in a conversation about cowrie shells. She said that she was from Ethiopia and that she hadn't seen anyone, in America, wearing cowrie shells. She said that cowrie shells are very special and are worn for protection.

I know I always feel good and grounded when I am wearing them.
Anyone have similar experiences or stories to share?

Alafia,
HappyShel
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From: congasan@webtv.net (jerry z)

Wow! Happy you are curious today. Your attraction for the cowries could mean that you are a son of Yemaya, a Yoruba ocean spirit associated with wealth and mother earth. your interest in African drumming and culture is another sign. Do you feel drawn to the sea?
Children of Yemaya have been known to swim out into the sea and never return!
Be careful.
     -        JZ
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From: "John Walter" <jwalter@freenet.co.uk>

I have worn my cowrie shell all the time since a trip to The Gambia at Easter. It was given to me by a young man on the beach who then went and fetched his djembe and a handful of friends and entertained us to drumming, dance and song for about three hours.
He said it was ju-ju ....musicians protection.
When it breaks I think I'll have to go back and get another.

   John
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From: "Vicky & Gerald Stone" <drm@ficom.net>

Hello, HappyShel, hello all: I too wear cowries. Specially for drumming, it be drumkit or hand drums, I drum for the Orisas first and then for all. Of course, enjoying the people and beauty that is drumming and music. (It is one of the most powerful forms of self expression that we have).

For many people in Africa, cowries are associated (as I understand it), with Eshu/Eleggua, the Orisa of the crossroads, of destiny, warrior Orisa and prosperity, all over Yorubaland, as well as with many other African people. (I'm sure that it is one of the many attributes for the cowrie). This same association goes for Cuba, the US, and many countries in South America were the influence of the African was and still is experienced in unique African ways.

In ancient times, the cowrie was currency much like our dollar is today.
Through divination, patakies (sacred stories of the Yoruba) in witch the Orisa relate proper moral, spiritual as well as everyday methods to solve conflicts, through Ebo's (sacrifice), the cowrie speaks. The cowrie is the mouth of the Orisas since it is used in divination. There are related stories about the cowrie that teach about being humble, respectful to your elders, that help the cowrie to have the attributes it has historically, as well as today.

When I wear mine on me or on my drums, people are surprised that I do. It is such a powerful symbol about Africa, that as you probably know by now people only associate it many times (but not always) with African-Americans or Africans wearing it.

Leave it to us drummers to do something different :)

May you have many days of great drumming:

              Vicky

              Iboru, Iboye, Ibosise
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From: "R Clark" <clark@acceleration.net>

I, too, feel these amulets from the sea to be protective. This begs the question just what are we to be protected from? I have read of, and experienced, attacks and back-biting by the djembefola of other djembefola due to jealousy or other motivations. I sense the need for a ju-ju flak jacket and still don't fully comprehend why ones feel to send others negativity in such a manner. There are prices to be paid for such behaviors all ways (Karma). The consequences of negative majik can be     immediate (Instant Karma) to the sender if a one is protected or pure of heart so that there is nowhere for the negativity to "hang". In cases such as this the energy bounces and follows the line of least resistance which is "return to sendersville".

Any one else care to relate their experiences in this area?

Blessed BE IN Time
              ®
Salaamalekum (Peace be unto you.)
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From: earthrhy@ptd.net (mark seaman)

As I understand it the cowrie also represents Goddess protection, in the Yoruba treadition this would be Yemonja/Olukan - who also is the energy of water and the sea,incidentally. My understanding is the cowrie's similarity to the appearance of the female genitals. In any case, it has much value and ju-ju from the motherland and therefore powerful. Ase
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From: Denis Robinson <dj.robinson@auckland.ac.nz>

>I know I always feel good and grounded when I am wearing them.
>Anyone have similar experiences?

No, but I have been told that cowrie shells are a symbol in many cultures of the female organ of generation. Happy: perhaps this explains your feeling so good and grounded?

(One of the culture-groups which use cowrie shells ornamentally is the Polynesian. My best djembe is from Guinea and beautifully carved round the base with a pattern of bas-relief black triangles (wood-coloured triangles the other way up carved between the black ones), with vertical columns of cowrie shells inset into the black at
several points round the drum. I was drumming in a group the other day, seated next to a young woman (novice drummer) of Maori and Tongan ancestry. She congratulated me on the nice job I had done of ornamenting my drum, and specially the way I'd used a Polynesian theme! - sheesh, if only I *could* do such beautiful wood carving!)
Maybe Michael Wall can tell us if Hawaiian-Americans go in much for cowrie shell necklaces and such?

Cheers, Denis

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Welcome To DJEMBE-L FAQ Cowrie Shells v6a

Welcome To
DJEMBE-L FAQ
Cowrie Shells
v6a