In Igbo culture, kolanuts hold spiritual and symbolic significance. The number of cotyledons (lobes) on a kolanut determines its importance each type associated with different blessings or ideals in Igbo society.
1. Three Cotyledons (Oji Ikenga or Oji Dike): Symbolizing strength and achievement, this type of kolanut is linked to luck, personal success, and bravery.
2. Four Cotyledons: The most revered type, representing the four days of the Igbo week—Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo—symbolizes harmony and is often used in religious ceremonies, underscoring the importance of balance.
3. Five to Seven Cotyledons (Oji Omumu or Uba Oji): Associated with abundance and fertility, these kolanuts are symbols of prosperity and growth and are given as blessings for continuity and wealth.
Cosmological Framework
Igbo cosmology intertwines with these symbolic uses, reflecting the structure of time and creation in Igbo belief. The myth suggests that Chi (the Supreme Being) existed alone initially and gave rise to Eke, creating a duality. From this duality came the four primary days of the Igbo week, each representing a cosmic force, and thus forming a cyclical, interconnected eight-day week. This mythological framework emphasizes balance, harmony, and interconnectedness, values that the kolanut, in its role within Igbo rituals, celebrates and reinforces.
Igbo cosmology suggests that:
1. Chi (the Supreme Being) existed alone initially.
2. Eke emerged from Chi, creating duality.
3. Eke divided the world into four: Eke, Orie, Afo, and Nkwo (the four market days).
4. Each of these four days is further divided into big (ukwu) and small (nta), forming an eight-day week.
This mythological framework underlies Igbo cultural practices, emphasizing balance, harmony, and the interconnectedness of all things.
Reference
Ejiofor, P. (1981). Cultural Heritage of the Igbo: Kolanut as a Symbol. Fourth Dimension Publishing.
Nwosu, A. M. (1998). Igbo Cosmology and the Symbolism of Kolanuts. African Studies Review, 41(3), 45-60
Comfort O. Chukuezi & Anelechi B. Chukuezi, “Kolanut Hospitality in Igboland,” Journal of Igbo Culture, 2002.
