Richard Trudgen and Djiniyini Gondarra talk about the trade in cowrie shells across the world.

Yolngu made cowrie shells into necklaces and arm & ankle bracelets and traded them with the Macassans as well as between different Yolngu clans. Djiniyini was surprised that cowrie shells were part of the world-wide history of trade and were used as money in other counties.

The cowrie shells were called ‘maniy-maniy’, which is pronounced money-money. It is not known where the name maniy-maniy came from. Possibly from the Macassans or from the Dutch who were in Macassar.

Mani-maniy is still used by Yolngu today. A lot of women who still make shell necklaces are surprised the value is now so low when they try to sell them to arts and craft shops.

The trade with the Macassans in pearls harvested from oysters and clam shells was also large. Djiniyini discusses how the trade in pearls from Yolngu through the Macassans went overland to England. He also explains how Yolngu produced pearls as part of traditional farming, including the production of cultured pearls. Pearls, as well as cowrie shells, were used as traditional money because they were so valuable.

It is mentioned that natural pearls are still very valuable today.

Produced by Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) 2007