Kola with one cotyledon is a dumb kola or oji ogbu. T is called oji mmuo that is, kola of the spirit in Izzi land/. It is not eaten kola with two cotyledous is equally a dumb kola and it is not eaten. This is the main reason why the Izzi people do not use the gworo or kola nitida for rituals or in serious traditional celebrations. Kola with three cotyledons is called oji ike, oji ikenga, that is, kola of the valiant. Only warriors or brave men and consecrated or ordained persons are permitted to eat this kola, as a matter of principle. Kola with for cotyledons is called oji udo na ngozi, that the “kola of peace and blessing’ it is the normal kola.
In Izzi land, ojo Igbo symbolism of the number four is very sacred among the Izzipeople .Kola with five cotyledons is ‘oji ubara mmadu, omumu na ukwuoma that symbolizes increase in procreation, protection and good luck in Izzi land. Kola with six cotyledons indicates communion with our ancestors, that is ‘oji ndi mmuo na ndi mmadu jiri gbaa ndu”. The smallest part or cotyledon is not eaten but is thrown away for the ancestors to eat. In like manner, kola with one cotyledon is not eaten by man, that means that it is not broken during ceremonies because it belongs to the ancestors, an attitude reminiscent of the direct link between the living and the dead in Izzi land
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