THE PRESENTATION OF KOLA NUT IN IZZI LAND - NIGERIA



Eze Ugo III of  Nwezenyi says that “ the kola nut is  the bread of Izzi sacramental communion and must  therefore be specially presented, broken, shared  and  partaken by all the parties and families in every marriage ceremony  as the final consummation and  blessing” the  reference to the bread of Izzi sacramental communion reminds us  of the fact that in  Izzi traditional religion, everyone present at a sacrifice participates in the consumption of the sacrificial meal, and the children are not left out.  The  importance of the people communion in Izzi the importance of the people communion in Izzinative rites is analogous to the priests  communion in the Christian churches  in the sense that every   priest who celebrates is bound to partake of the  communion. No other symbol represents  Izzi communal spirit more than  the  kola nut.


The Eze  goes on to talk of kola presentation “Oji is  the first thing served in every function or ceremony personal or communal agreements,  welcoming of  a visitor  to an Izzihome, and settlement of family disputes in Izziland. Eze silver Ibenye Ugbala stated  that Izzi welcome  is not complete without  the sharing of the kola nut. Immediately after  the prolonged greetings  in the traditional manner, “… the kola nut is brought  forth on a dish or   saucer or, what is  more correct, on a wooden platter (really a small box fitted with a vocer)  prepared and kept for the sole purpose of presenting kola nut”. He goes deeper in the description of the kola presentation.  In the dish are one of more nuts. The owner first receives it form the slave  attendant or one of  his wives. He takes a nut  and puts it to his lips, thus signifying that it is about to be offered in good faith. This symbolic action proves  him to be free from malice. The   dish is, there upon,  passed to the visitor”.  The kola   presentation is not essentially descriptive, rather it is at the same time a symbolic  action. 

The symbolism is the  kola nut presentation  comes out  clearly when many people are in attendance. The   social aspect is clearly brought out  because of  oji is  carried   from one person to another   according to a trace of  kindship  relationship starting form the home of the host, spreads out in the direction of left to right movement  and comes back to the host. This symbolic action is a manner of head count or a way of checking the identify of all the people  in attendance in any gathering before  any type of discussion  could be had. 

The  kola nut  presentation symbolizes  peace and welcome, and if one makes a mistake while carrying  the kola round,  “ipa oji or ire oji” he is  traditionally death with according to norms in different communities  in Izziland. Such as error is  considered as  very grave and   indicates  that the offender is not so responsible  and may not be a reliable person.
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