The Currency of Culture
Lafalaise Dion’s new collection, Abondance, solidifies her status as The Queen of Cowries.
Born in Côte d’Ivoire, Lafalaise Dion, also known as The Queen of Cowries, is a visual artist, performer, and designer who embodies the essence of African heritage, mythology, and spirituality. Based in Abidjan, she draws inspiration for her clothing, jewellery, and art from the Dan culture in the Western region of Côte d’Ivoire — particularly cowrie shells, which are steeped in centuries of ancestral symbolism.
The cowrie is an extension of Lafalaise; a tangible vessel of the legacy left by her ancestors and her experience of spirituality. Growing up in a society where African spirituality and mystical practices were taught to be rejected and demonised, Lafalaise always had a sense of unease when it came to Gods, rituals and objects of her cultural heritage. Despite this, she always harboured a love for the cowrie shell. “Through extensive reading, research, and meditation, I discovered African spirituality and the significance of the cowrie shell,” she says.
I finally understood the source of my fascination with cowrie shells and learned that the history of my people was intertwined with theirs.”
Cowries have a longstanding history in West Africa. Legend has it that they originated from the Maldives and were introduced to Africa in the 8th century by Arab traders. Among the Dan people, cowrie shells are an integral part of life, serving as protectors and messengers of the djinans (genies), used to empower the traditional masks, dancers, and mystical rituals, and to communicate with our ancestors and Gods. The shell also symbolises wealth, power, femininity, and sexuality. Its curved shape resembles a pregnant woman’s belly, a symbol of fertility, while the slit separating its two halves represents duality.
Lafalaise’s mission, or calling, is for Africans to reclaim their heritage and embrace their culture and spirituality, rewriting their own narrative in the process of reclaiming identity. “Our existence has been dictated for too many centuries,” says Lafalaise. “Today, knowledge is within reach, we must seize it.”
The Ivorian’s new collection, Abondance, once again makes use of cowries as a vessel of spiritual significance, with Solange Knowles as the face of her new campaign. Lafalaise is no stranger to the Knowles family as she collaborated with Beyoncé and her team on the Black is King visual album alongside other artists from Côte d’Ivoire. Abondance is a culmination of a profound journey from 2022 to 2024 — honouring and celebrating the creativity and collaboration of artisans from across Africa and the collection’s hand-woven cotton fabric, thoughtfully crafted in the shape of a cowrie, symbolises the interconnectedness of communities and families. Passed down through generations, cowries have played a pivotal role in African stories, a testament to the continent’s rich cultural heritage, enveloped in the protective and healing energy of cotton. “Like a child brought into the world, Abondance represents plenitude and blessings,” she says. “Just as a child belongs not only to its family but also to the village, Abondance belongs to our cherished community — a source of joy,
empowerment, and adornment that we wholeheartedly share with each and every one of you.”
Lafalaise’s work ranges from statement pieces to subtle accessories and intricate headpieces — all meticulously handcrafted. These pieces act as a physical manifestation of their ancestral roots and spiritual identity, whether worn as adornment or incorporated into rituals, the cowrie shell becomes a tangible expression of reverence and a connection to the divine.
