Kola with one cotyledon is a dumb kola or oji ogbu. T is called oji mmuo that is, kola of the
spirit in Izzi land/. It is not eaten kola with two cotyledous is equally a dumb kola and it
is not eaten. This is the main reason
why the
Izzi people do not use the gworo
or kola nitida for rituals or in serious
traditional celebrations. Kola with three cotyledons is called oji ike, oji ikenga, that is, kola of the valiant.
Only warriors or brave men and consecrated or
ordained persons are permitted to eat this kola, as a matter of principle. Kola with for cotyledons is
called oji udo na ngozi, that the “kola of peace and blessing’ it is the normal kola.
In Izzi land, ojo Igbo symbolism
of the number four is very sacred among the Izzipeople .Kola with five cotyledons
is ‘oji ubara mmadu, omumu na ukwuoma that symbolizes increase in
procreation, protection and good luck in Izzi
land. Kola with six cotyledons indicates communion with our ancestors, that is
‘oji ndi mmuo na ndi mmadu jiri gbaa
ndu”. The smallest part or cotyledon is not eaten but is thrown away for the
ancestors to eat. In like
manner, kola with one cotyledon
is not eaten by man, that means that it
is not broken during ceremonies because
it belongs to the ancestors, an attitude reminiscent of the direct link
between the living and the dead in Izzi land