KOLA NUT AND ITS USES AMONG THE IZZI PEOPLE IN NIGERIA



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.
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