Concept:Before modern national currencies, West African trade used commodity money such as cowrie shells.
Explanation:In early West African commerce, trade was based on barter and the exchange of valuable articles.
Arab merchants and trans-Saharan traders brought items like salt, copper, cloth, and cowrie shells to the region.
These goods were traded for kola nuts, gold, hides, and slaves.
Among these, cowrie shells became a widely accepted medium of exchange.
They were durable, easy to count, and portable, making them suitable for daily purchases and larger transactions.
Cedis, dalasi, and naira are modern currencies of Ghana, The Gambia, and Nigeria, introduced long after early trade.
Therefore, the article used as a means of exchange in early West African trade was the cowrie.
Answer:B. Cowrie