KOLA NUT AND ITS USES AMONG THE PEOPLE

Kola nut is a revered fruit among the Izzians. Unlike the yorubas pray with is as all the Igbos do and traditional eat it, in Izzi culture, it is a very vital part of every ceremony. During traditional marriages for instance, breaking and praying over kola nuts is an important aspect of the ceremony. The family of the bride of presents the kola to the visiting family of the groom, and  once presented prayer is said often by the eldest male member of the family present at the marriage ceremony. Even when a man receives a private guest in his home, the first thing to offer is the kola nut, this signifies that the guest is well received .  The kola nut is prayed over and the broken up and eaten. It could be eaten on its own or with groundnut paste or alligator pepper. This could be followed by drinking of palm wine, brandy, whisky or

such napps. In modern homes or other alcoholic drinks could be presented.

Among the Izzians , it is an abomination for a woman or girl to break for kola nut. In an all female gathering, no female would be allowed to pray over or break a kola nut, rather a young boy could  

In a general sense, the kola nut in  Izzi land  constitutes a remarkable  social symbol of hospitality  , life, peace, kindness, good- will, commensality, fraternity, reconciliation and integrity.  The kola  is a typical multi – referential social symbol, while   the eldest and youngest persons may break  and share kola in social gatherings, it is the  exclusive rights of   the priest to break kola during  Izzi rituals to juju, as is made evident in iboko

“ the  kola nut and palm wine are jointly used in the Izzi sacrament of igbandu- final reconciliation  of man with   God   in all disputes or  misunderstandings”  the unconditional attention given  to  oji symbolism much of the Izzi cultural   identity.