The socio- religious importance of koka nuts among the people of Izzi in particular and Igbo land in general cannot be over stated and the living as well as an avenue for evolving duties and divinities to be present at the proceeding marriage ceremony and the life contract that is going to be established. Finally, in any society people quarrel and get into conflict, the spirit of reconciliation will be very important on the part of the parties in conflict, if whatever that constitutes the problem must be resolved, in Igbo society, when conflict arose between two parties an attempt is always made to reconcile them. At the end of the process of reconciliation, the parties concerned are required to eat kola together. This is symbol that, the two parties have reconciled. This is because visitors welcomed in a place is not complete without kola nuts presentation no matter the type of dishes served to the visitors. This is why no matter the type of dishes served without kolanut to a
visitor in Igbo land at the end, the person may claim unsatisfied or that he/ she was not well received. According to using Ofim ( a sooth sawyer)of Ndiage Amagu in Izzi “a bulb of kola nut sent home by a visitor indicates obviously that the visitor actually met his guest at home “ Philip I.N(1983:112) further state that a person may offer anything other than kola nut but he Mustteli his visitor that he should take it in the place of kola nut. These items may include palm wine garden eggs, carrot and so on.
In this Modernera, they may include or be replace with biscuit o coke English dry gin, cola acuminate (house gworo) or any edible item. Kola nuts is also said to be the paramount item presented to a visitor in every Igbo socio- religious and cultural gathering either, for enjoyment or bereavement. This can be linked to the socio-religious life of the people of Izzi people. Presentation of kola nuts in Izziland kola nut presentation in izzi land remains the ame throughout the six autonomous communities that made up Izzi. If the kola nut is to presented by a single person, the presenter may could his slave attendant or one of his wives to bring him a kola nuts and he will put it in a wooden platters or source, containing roasted – ground pepper mixed palm oil and announce, “here is kola nuts”. But if the kolanut is to be presented to the members of a family, the kola nut may be given to the oldest man in the gathering by the host and ask him to present it to the entire members of the family or let may be given to an elder that is next of kin to the host to present to the congregation. If it is a gathering made up of a mixture of families, the kola nuts in a wooden platter may be carried around from the oldest member of one family to the last and finally given back to the oldest lein to the presenter and tell him “ the kola nut of the leing is in the hand of the leing, of it according”.
Blessing of the kola nuts the presentation of the kola nuts is always followed by the blessing of it in every social- religious gathering of the people of Izzi, it is the oldest man that blesses the kola nuts. Hence a renowned traditionalist, Okoro Alioche of Ndieze community stated. Thus “ if an elder is holding a sacrificial item ie kola nuts, he starts to communicate with the spirits in the spiritual land” mr. Andrew Obashi, a traditional custodian of Okpera, in Ndiagu – Echarea community in his own contribution opinioned that kola nuts in its presentation and blessing speaks on other language than Igbo”
The process of blessing kola nuts is that, the oldest man in the gathering lifts the kola in the wooden plate and evoke the spirits of the living and the dead and different oracles of the land and invites them to come and participate in the consumption of the kola nuts so that, they will eat it with good health, long life and abundant blessing. At the end, of the prayer, the congregation will reply in Igbo language ise-ee-ee i.e amen
According to Ominyi Igboke of Ndozibo (otabiri I ) of Ndieze community, “women are not allowed to bless kola nut in a mixed gathering. Sharing of kola nut, according to Izzi custom, the oldest man in the gathering who blessed kola nuts should not be presented in the night to avoid misunderstanding . THE kola nuts
will share the kola nuts. If it is a religious gathering before an oracle, it is the chief priest of the oracle that will bless and share the kola nuts. After sharing the kola nut around for the people the pick and cheus
More so, according to Agashi Igobke of Ndozibo, Ndieze community “ kola nuts of four robes or bulbs is good it shows or indicates the four market days in Igbo land, these cinlcude Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo, if the kola nut is five robes, the presenter is lucky, hence the one lobe will be given him.
The socio- religious uses of kola nuts the socio -religious uses of kola nuts are many but varied.
These includes marriage ceremony, naming ceremony, oath – taking welcoming of visitor and many more
According to A C Angamwu (1982:25) “throughout Nigeria, kola nuts are used as gifts and are widely circulated in an important occasions as I mentioned above
Oputa (1986:145) opined that “the uses of kola nut can be looked at from three levels at the communal relations and at the ritual levels. At the individual level, kola nut is a sign of good will . This good will can be shown to a visitor or to some one who meets another in a working place and so on. To welcome a visitor. It is the first thing one has to present to a visitor.
An Igbo proverb had it that “mmvojieriehi, ebule oji bu mbu” meaning that an oracle shall be offered a cow or ram, the first step towards the sacrifice is kola nut like wise in welcoming a visitor. Hence the adage which says “he who brings kola nut bring life”. In Izzi custom, kola nut can also be used in marriage ceremony or for the unification of two families in life contract . it is a factor for gorging a continuing link between the dead and the living.
Methodology
in a study of this nature, the researcher in a study of this nature, the researcher will collect data from secondary sources including books by prominent historian and other academicians, journals, magazines and newspapers will be consulted as well relevant articles. Attempts will be made to get some oral information from knowledgeable people who have a good idea of the importance of kola nut in Igbo land, the purpose of forming it and its functions in Igbo land and Izzilocal government area in particular. This information will be processed for reliability. The researchers personal experiences shall be of immense benefit
References
abiodun o .u (1981) agricultural science for schools and colleges Evans Brothers Publishing Company Enugu, called from Izzi identity and personality vis-à-vis Izzi/ cum Igbo cultural symbols, being the thesis presented for the doctorate degree by Rev Fadea Nwofoke E.N UNN (1989)
Encyclopedia Americana (1981) volume 19 encyclopedia Britannica (1576) Africa and her cultural traits volume 2
Ezeanya S.N (1976) healing in traditional Africa society , university press ltd nsukka
Eze Silver Ugbala (1998) the position of kola nut in the cultural life of the Izzipeople of Ebonyi State Accra publishing company ltd. Enugu
Nico Van Steensel (1996) the Izzi, their history and customs Abakaliki
Okpara m.i (1956) new magazine speech made while acting as preminer of eastern Nigeira, community and their development, London university press
Okputa d.u (1998) easy on Igbo world view, auto- century publishing company ltd owerri
Uche S.O (2008) communities and their developments London university press enugu
Ominyi igboke, C 70 a member of Ezes cabinet, interviewed Ndozibo Community in Izzi 03/05/2012
Using Ofim, C 68, A Sooth Sayer interviewed at Ndiagu Amagu Village Izzi 20/06/ 2012
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