In an unprecedented coordinated move, the central banks of Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda have issued stern warnings against the increasingly popular practice of creating ‘money bouquets’ ahead of Valentine’s Day celebrations. This trend, which has gained significant traction across social media platforms in recent years, involves meticulously folding, gluing, and arranging banknotes into elaborate floral arrangements that are gifted during romantic occasions and other celebrations.
The financial authorities have emphasized that this practice constitutes a direct violation of national laws prohibiting currency defacement and mutilation. By physically altering banknotes through folding, pinning, or adhesive application, these decorative arrangements compromise the structural integrity of the currency and significantly shorten its usable lifespan. The coordinated regulatory action comes as central banks seek to reduce the substantial costs associated with replacing damaged currency, particularly ahead of expected spikes in such practices during peak gifting seasons.
AFP documentation from Lagos, Nigeria, illustrates the commercial scale of this phenomenon, with businesses like Surprise World NG specializing in crafting these monetary arrangements. Photographs show employees meticulously constructing bouquets using 500 Naira notes, while supervisors proudly display their intricate creations. Similar scenes have emerged from Kampala, Uganda, where stalls prominently feature these monetary displays in commercial districts.
While these visually striking gifts represent a blend of traditional gift-giving and contemporary creativity, financial institutions maintain that the practice ultimately undermines national economic interests by accelerating currency deterioration and increasing replacement expenditures.