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KWENU! Our culture, our future |
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Kolanut
Communion M.
O. Ené PART I: Oji, the kolanut, is considered a simple seed from native kolanut tree of tropical woodlands. It may look so, but the Igbo regard it as a fine fruitage from the bowels of earth, a plant produce revered and eaten in a communion of the loved living and the dear departed. It is a socioritualistically symbolic seed like no other on this planet. Probably. There are many dimensions to the rites of kolanut communion. I will discuss these rites, mostly as they should apply in African diaspora communities -- based on what obtains in bucolic Africa, especially in Igboland. Why? After a full-book treatment of this subject, it suddenly dawned on me that I had not scratched the surface of the simple but significant seed. As promised in "Our culture, our future," I will try and scratch the surface of the kolanut some more and then compress it into a two-part piece. If time permits, I will publish the full-learnt book as well as supply detailed explanations and references. For now, I am sure the following will tidy us up for a week as we celebrate Igbo Heritage Month, keep our minds freed of political problems for a change, and give us a different perspective on how our forefathers lived. I will still revisit Odinani, the Igbo religion. Aspects of Igbo religion fuel mysteries of kolanut communion and the role of women. If you don't know why Ndiigbo "negotiate" or seem to "haggle" cheerfully and even jocosely with deities and spirits rather than submissively "worship" the supernatural, keep an open mind and don't stop reading. Now let's talk about nuts.
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