Claribel
@clarybel
Oji (kola-nut) The Igbos refers to the kola nut as “the greatest symbol of Igbo hospitality. It always comes first. ‘It is the king’. And because of the important place it occupies, presenting it is very ceremonial. The ceremony begins with the presentation of the kola nut to the guests through the next ran…
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Claribel
@clarybel
As the heart beat of the Igbo culture and tradition, the Igbo kola nut is used for several purposes, which include: 1. To welcome a visitor To welcome a visitor with a kola is to receive the visitor into one’s life. It is also a sign that you wish the visitor life. 2. To open a prayer It is used for prayers …
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Claribel
@clarybel
• The kKola nut with one lobe is a dumb kola (Oji Ogbi). It is also called the kola nut of the spirits (Oji Mmuo), round kola nut (Oji Ifilifi or nkpurukakpu), kola nut of the mystical circle or zero kola nut(Oji Akwu na Ogbi or Obi); it is not eaten by human beings because it belongs to Chukwu; Chukwu is a …
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Claribel
@clarybel
• When it has two lobes, it is called oji gworo, symbolizing male and female. It is an elliptical gender shadow of oji ogbi and the first child of the one-lobed kola nut. It is the cola nitida. Just like the one-lobed kola nut, it belongs to the spirits and is not used for religious and cultural celebrations i…
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Claribel
@clarybel
• Three-lobed kola nut is called Oji Ikenga (Ike eji aga, Ikenga is a spirit of power and achievement) or Oji Dike (the kola nut of the brave or valiant), or Oji Echichi (the kola nut of titled people). It is the masculine kola. As a matter of principle, it is eaten only by warriors, brave men, the consecr…
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Claribel
@clarybel
• The kola with four lobes (Oji Aka ano) is the kola of peace (Oji Udo) and blessings (Oji Ngozi), the kola nut of the four market days (Oji ahia na ano ubosi na ano: Afor, Nkwor, Eke and Orie). It also symbolizes completeness (izu zuru oke, referring to the four market days). It is the kola nut for both m…
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Claribel
@clarybel
• The kola with five lobes is the kola of procreation (Oji omumu), protection, of industry and achievement (Oji aka na okpa), of wealth (Oji una or Oji ubalaka), progress and good luck (Oji sirili werere). Whenever it is broken and shared, it is a sign that things will go well. It came from the four-lobed k…
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Claribel
@clarybel
• The kola with six lobes is called the kola nut of the ancestors (Oji ndi chie), or the kola that doubles the Ikenga kola (Oji Ikenga abuo). It is also called the covenant kola nut (Oji Ogbugbandu), the kola nut of communion (Oji Oriko) or the kola nut of blood and spirit ties (Oji Umume na Umuite). It is…
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