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…

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 …

• 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 …

• 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…

• 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…

• 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…

• 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…

• The last is the seven-lobed kola, which is known as the kola nut of 

perfection of man and spirit (Oji asaa mmadu asaa mmuo), 

consummations, fulfillment, and completeness (Oji kpurugede), the 

kola nut of the titled cow killer (Oji ogbuefi), the kola nut of Ozo title

and prophecy (Oji ozo na amuma), the kol…

There are special events when and where it is used by human beings in their relationship with the divine. These 

times include:

• Prayer

It is very important in prayer because the kola nut speaks, and 

also used to communicate between human beings and the gods. 

It is so important that in every gathering of …

• Divination and Prophecy

The kola nut is an important element during divination and 

prophecy among the Igbo. Divination involves a process of 

inquiry. People who wish to know why certain things happen, 

how to solve certain problems, and so on, go to diviners. This 

is usually done through the agency of a …

• Festivals, Rites, Rituals and Ceremonies

The kola nut is never absent in Igbo religious festivals, rituals, 

rites and ceremonies. The reason is simple; the gods cannot be 

invited for a ceremony without making provision for their 

food: the kola nut. Religious festivals and rituals, such as new 

yam festiv…

• Sacrifice and Worship

The kola nut occupies an important place in Igbo ritual home. 

For some, it is a crop grown in the forests and sold; but for the Igbo, it is an instrument for a holy communion. Its sacredness 

explains why it is used by human beings during sacrifices and 

worship. Through it, the human …

• 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…