REASONS WHY WOMEN DO NOT BREAK CEREMONIAL KOLA NUT



Eze ugbala of  mbeke Izzisays that “ the high degree of the sanctify  accorded  the kola nut throughout Izziland  in particular and Igboland in general is likened to that of the biblical forbidden  fruit of paradise in  that women are forbidden from either planting, climbing,  plucking or breaking the kola nut”. This does not mean that men are holier than women in Izzior  Igbo societies. It is just a question  of mentality  similar to the biblical regard  for women.

The  denial of women’s right to  break Izzior Igbo   ceremonial kola is more of social character and organization and  does not  imply a let  down or   inferiority. Women do break
the Izzior Igbo kola  when they gather in their usual cultural  groupings  of umu ada or umuokpu or umumgboto and  also in the  oha ndinyomu, that is council of women where no man has a   saying. On the contrary, Izziwomen have their cultural organizations which are completely independent of men. Izziwomen have many customary rights and privileges in the  society so that they may not complain over the kola nut tradition which is a  matter of division of labour or function.

Coming near  to the kola symbolism, we note that  kola is also used as a symbol of  reconciliation and  to effect a covenant between  two or more persons. A case between   two brothers, Ezeakam and Igwe  was  settled by their eldest brother Elem, who “… brought a  piece of kola nut and divided it   into two and gave one half too each. Ehen settling murder case in an  Iboko traditional  way, kola is normally used .

In  a general sense, the  kola nut in Izziland  constitutes a remarkable social symbol of hospitality,  fraternity, reconciliation and integrity. The kola is a  typical multi  - referential social symbol of  hospitality, life, peace, kindness, good  will, commensality,   fraternity, reconciliation and integrity. The kola  is a typeical multi- referential social symbol.

While  the eldest and youngest persons may break and share kola in social gatherings, it is the exclusive right of the priest  to  break kola during  Izzirituals to juju, as  is  made evident in iboko  “ the  kola nut and palm wine are jointly used in the Izzisacrament of   igbandu- final reconciliation of man with God in all disputes or misunderstandings,” the unconditional attention given to oji symbolism much of the Izzicultural identify.
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