Finland Bridal Wedding Fashion 2014 Bangles Bracelet Collection 139

Finland Bridal Wedding Fashion 2014 Bangles Bracelet Collection.  

By Samina Aamir 

Most West Indians refer to them as ‘bangles’ however, historically they are known as manillas or okpoho/Okombo/abi.  Once a form of currency for West African peoples, manillas would become one of the main currencies of choice during the slave trade to the Americas. Their usage during this time in history was of such prevalence that they were often referred to as “slave trade money.”