Oji (Kola)
"Ndi b'anyi ndeewo nu oo!...Onye wetara oji, wetara ndu..."
The Igbo's are rich in customs and traditions. One such important custom is Oji, the Kola Nut. In Igboland much importance is attached to kola nuts. It plays a very important social and ritual role in Igbo society. It is widely said and believed that "He who brings kola brings life". If an Igbo man visits a fellow Igbo, he does not feel he is a welcome visitor until his host has offered him kola. Kola nut is always offered whether or not the host knew the guests were coming in advance.
The Kola nut(Cola Nut) - biological name - " Sterculiaceae cola vera", is the seed kernel of a large West African tree with pretty flowers - yellow with purple spots. The nuts are actually seed leaves also called Cotyledons(1 to 2 inches). They are odourless with a bitter thing to them.
Its main content is caffeine and some historical uses include: stimulants, anti-depressants, diuretics and for sea-sickness.
A more popular use is in cola beverages. Legend has it that coca cola was originally made from the mixture of sugar, coca and an extracts from kola nut. - Coca-cola today is one of the best known brand in the World.
The Kola Nut symbolic process involves three main steps:
The presentation of the kola
The breaking of the kola
The distribution of the kola
When Kola nut is presented, the host hands it to the oldest man among his guests. The oldest man then shows it to everyone present, it gets passed around and each of them records his approval by touching the nut (this is usually refered to as "TRAVEL" - The Kola Nut is travelling). At this point greetings and prayers are said to God, the gods and our ancestors. Prayers are usually for life, happiness, good health, children, prosperity and good harvests.
In the breaking of the Kola Nut, the responsibility may fall on the oldest person present or on the youngest person, depending on which part of Igboland. In most parts of Awka, the duty falls on the oldest, but in Ngwaland, more often than not it is the responsibility of the youngest among them.
Once the Kola Nut is broken, the pieces of kola are now distributed round by the youngest among them, everyone takes a piece of it.
Other forms of Igbo hospitality are the offering of food, and drink but none is as important as the offering of Kola Nut. In Igboland the word "Oji" represents hospitality.