Emphasis is laid on the number of cotyledons in a kola nut oji Igbo-Igbo
kola – nut must have more than two
cotyledons. An Igbo kola nut with two cotyledons is malformed and so cast away.
It is neither eaten by an titled man titled
man- Nze nor by a woman. A three
cotyledons kola nut foretells good omen. It is Ikenga oji kola nut for men who have distinguished
themselves in noble deeds. Every Izziman considers a four cotyledons kola
nut acceptable. It is indicative of the acceptance and approval of the
gathering by the goods of the four market days Eke, orie, Afo, and Nkwo.
A kola nut of five cotyledons is symbolic of productivity and wealth. All
assembled are happy when it is announced
that ‘oji nkea gbara ise, this kola nut
has five cotyledons.
All chuckle to themselves as
though the children and wealth promised have already been realized. A
combination of six cotyledons
spells bad omen “isii na –esi ihe” six dulls up things” it is
bad luck just like 13 in
English. One cotyledon is thrown away and remaining cotyledons eaten.
A kola nut with seven or eight
cotyledons is very rare but highly valued when found. In some Izziareas,
the house holder pays some money to buy
out some of the luck supposedly wrapped up in the seven or eight
cotyledon formation, the money is used
to feast the members present. As kola nut is bitter especially the unripended
ones .The
Izzians eats kola nut with ground
pepper mixed with oil and the mixture
acts like a stimulant. Kola nut paste can
be carefully prepared with
pepper, crayfish, groundnut melon, dried fish and meat for big occasions