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.