Nigeria, Sokoto Province, Diverse Tribes, Mondua

Manillas circulated from the coast of Guinea into the African hinterland since the 15th century. It was a currency that had developed from arm-, leg- and neck-rings, from jewelry thus. There existed different forms, among them such large copper ring bars. Not all the manillas and ring bars had the same purpose: large and richly ornamented rings like this one were not used as every day money but served as bride price and status symbols.