Explained

What is Esusu?

Esusu is a traditional West African cooperative savings system where a group of trusted people each contribute a fixed amount of money at regular intervals. The pooled sum is then given to one member per cycle, rotating until everyone has received their payout.

Also known as Ajo, Adashe, Asusu, Adashi, or rotating savings and credit association (ROSCA), Esusu has been a cornerstone of community-based financial support across Africa for centuries.

How Esusu works

1. A group of members agrees on a contribution amount (e.g. ₦10,000 per month).
2. Each member contributes every cycle (weekly, monthly, etc.).
3. The full pool is paid out to one member each cycle, rotating fairly.
4. The cycle repeats until every member has received their payout once.

Example: 10 members each contribute ₦10,000 monthly. Each month, one member receives ₦100,000. After 10 months, every member has received their turn.

Esusu by other names

All of these are variations of the same community savings model. See our full glossary →