Kola nut is a revered fruit among the Izzians. Unlike
the Yoruba’s that plant it and the Hausas that eat it, the Izzians pray with it as all
the Igbos do and
traditionally eat it, in Izziculture, it is a very
vital part of every ceremony. During traditional marriages
vital part of every ceremony. During
traditional marriages for
instance, breaking and praying over kola nuts is a 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 schnapps. In
modern homes beer 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 be called in to perform this
act despite his age.
The Izziin particular and Igbos in
general believes that the kola
nut does not understand the foreign
language; rather it understands only the Igbo language.
Therefore one cannot pray with the kola nut speaking any language other than Igbo. During such prayers with the
kolanut, other health
of the people is prayed, for, prosperity
is prayed for, and also for the future of every person
in and outside of the family. The
Izzians believes that when one eats over a kola nut prayed over, the person is
positively affected and his or her
future secured.
Traditionalists while saying their prayers pray to their gods, and the ancestors and forefathers, but with the coming of Christianity the prayers
are prayed to God Almighty by
Christians and they end such
prayers calling on the revered name
of Jesus Christ. In some communities, the oldest family members says the prayers,
while in some, it is only traditional title holders that are
eligible to say the payers. In some
communities it is the youngest family
member that prays over the kola
nut.
The beliefs among the Izzians
The Izzians believes that when a kola nut has only one or two lobes, it
is an abomination and such kola could only be eaten by a native doctor. Apart
from one or two lobes, others could be eaten and they each lobe meant different things.
When a kola presents three lobes it represents the three cooking stands
of the
traditional Igbo kitchen, but if it
presents four lobes, it means the traditional Igbo market days of Eke,
Oye (Orie) Afor and Nkwo. When a kola
nut presents seven lobes it is
celebrated and people entertained. In a case that the lobes are five in number,
it represents fruitfulness and goodness.
Here is a sample of a
traditional prayer said over kola nuts
by the Izzians
“ he who brings kola brings, brings life”.
Response! Iseeee.
Let our fore fathers and ancestors
join us in eating this kola.
Response! Iseeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loet the ancestors visit our land and bless us and enrich us . response!
Iseeeeeeeeee.
Let there be peace in our homes and let our guests and us
enjoy peace, let whoever eats part of
this kola enjoy good helath and long life
and prosperity. Response!
Iseeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Let us all not witness evil, let evil doers be far from our homes and may we witness goodness our
father come and join and eat kola, speak
for us in the land of the spirits. Response! Iseeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
The prayers are basically the same for Christians except that the
response is normally amen!!! While they invite the spirit of God and pray to
God Almighty rather than ancestors and
forefathers, and they pray in the amen .
At the close of prayers, the kola
nut is broken and passed round the people. Comments are passed on number of
lobes while people eat and share drinks. This tradition of kola nut breaking
has been passed down from one generation
to another among the Izzians in particular and the Igbos in general, and it is
a tradition that has come to stay
Reference
Eze silver ugbala (1998) the
position of kola nut in the cultural life of the Izzipeople of Ebonyi State.
Accra publishing press enugu.