Concept:Early West African trade used commodity money, especially cowrie shells, before modern currencies were introduced.
Explanation:In pre-colonial West Africa, trade relied on goods that had value in themselves and served as money.
The cowrie shell, obtained from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, became the most widely accepted medium of exchange.
Traders valued cowries because they were durable, portable, easy to count, and difficult to counterfeit.
People used them for everyday market transactions, payments, and even bride-price settlements across many West African communities.
The other options are modern national currencies: the Cedi belongs to Ghana, the Dalasi to The Gambia, and the Naira to Nigeria.
These official currencies were created only after colonial and post-independence monetary systems replaced traditional trade methods.
Thus, the cowrie shell specifically matches the description of an early exchange article in West Africa.
Answer:B. Cowrie