Standing on existing protocol and the liberty to rephrase the title, I will like to caption the topic under the heading above.
There is a long standing Igbo adage that says, “*while the Yorubas of Southwest Nigeria plant kola nut, the Hausas of Northeast/west of Nigeria eat kola nut, the Igbos of Southeast Nigeria show reverence to kola nut*”.
This has presented kola nut not just as an edible nut for the Igbos of Southeast Nigeria, but also a natural nut with some socio-cultural connotations and philosophical implications that are entangled in Igbo cosmology.
It is against this background that I made the post so that we will understand the place of kola nut (oji Igbo) in traditional Igbo culture, with a view to understanding the socio-cultural connotations of Kola nut in Igbo cosmology.
As “king of fruits”, due to its presentation first in any gathering in Igboland, which specific variety is recommended for use in performing traditional Igbo opening prayers during visitations, festivals, ceremonies, new yam and ofala occasions etc given the resort to the use GWORO (oji Hausa) by our people?
What is the meaning and importance of the ritualistic invocations and blessings uttered while holding the kola nut in Igbo custom and traditional practices?
Beyond symbolism and feminism associated with this sacred fruit, are there other utilitarian values e.g medicinal that kola nut serves in traditional Igbo society?
What are the different varieties, colors, uses and ontologies of kola nut (such as “ọji bụ eze”, “ọnye wetere ọji, wetere ṅdụ”, etc) that exists in Igbo land?
Are there social, cultural, health, environmental, and economic abuses which the kola nut is subjected to in our milieu?
How can we eradicate these abuses on the sacred fruit so as to guarantee it’s sustenance?
It’s essential to acknowledge and address these forms of abuses to ensure the sustainable and respectful use of kola nuts in Igbo culture.
From the following brief background and posers, this discourse will benefit from more information, thereby educating norms on the role and importance of kola nut in Igbo society.
Our fore_fathers made kola nut what is known for today in Eastern region of Nigeria.Our elders so believe that much goes along with breaking of kola ,.spiritual connotations nd meanings, respect to the gods of the land, respect to the living more reason mostly eldest in every gathering are permitted to accept breaking of kola .on the contrary in other parts of the world these things surroundinng the kola nut not universal or acceptable .In igbo land today going by the generation of youths coming up with speed kola nut nd its cultural values might die a natural death where its meaning of meanings might go in extinction as against our elders who knew nd understood the cultural values of this kola .Except the government of the day wil hv to pass it into law as part of our cultural heritage nd should be observed whenever occasion demands ,the only way it can be preserved in Igbo land.
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