Thread by @hartng

Should I do a thread on Kolanuts? 98% of people here won't know what to do with a native Kolanut (oji Igbo) if given one at a gathering in the village.

Okay. Here goes a thread on the tradition surrounding Oji Igbo.

First, Oji Igbo is the one on the left. Identifiable by its multiple partitions.

Completely different from Oji Hausa or gworo on the right which can only be split into two.

Note that omenana or tradition can only be performed with Oji Igbo. If Oji Hausa or gworo is presented by the host, no need for tradition. Just split and share however deemed fit and proceed.

When Oji Igbo is involved however, strict procedures are to be adhered to.

*You cannot hold Oji Igbo & speak any other language except Igbo.

*women can neither present, touch nor bless Oji Igbo. When it has been blessed, if they want one, a male close by can pick from the tray and hand to them. (sorry guys, culture).

Oji Igbo is presented in multiples of 2 & maximum of 16 pieces. Never an odd number. Standard is 4.

If split & its just 2 parts, its an abomination & the guests will disperse.

If its 6 parts, it calls for celebration with its own rights that may involve killing of a goat 😊.

Oji Igbo is only split vertically. Never horizontally no matter the thinness of the piece. Breaking Oji Igbo horizontally will lead you to pay a fine except if the old man present rescues you by proclaiming that he instructed you to break it that way so it can go round.

Presentation:

The male host presents Oji Igbo in an okwa or tray to the leader of the guest delegation or if disparate, the eldest-looking guest.

There are no compulsory words but lekwa nu oji/Oji abiala is generic and usually suffices.

Then the fun starts. This can usually be protracted, drawn-out & can lead to quarrels & raised voices depending on the temperament of the guests. Rights are asserted here & seniority protected. God help you if you skip the wrong person here.

The leader of the delegation accepts the Kolanut and must show every male guest present the Kolanut in descending seniority order. Where people from different localities are present, start with the person closest to you by village. If different states, ditto.

For example, in Abia, If an Arochukwu person receives the Kolanut, he should Ideally ask if there is an Ohafia person in the room. Then Bende, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi before entering Umuahia onwards to Ukwa. You cannot skip unless no one from there is present.

Ditto if you're from Ebonyi and its a pan-Igbo gathering. You cannot present Kolanut to an Anambra man without asking if there is an Enugu man present. You cannot present to Imo without passing through Abia.

Sometimes, to make it short and depending on the authority he wields, one person could mention all of the male guests by name & ask them if he has their authority to proceed. The operative word is 'unu sim gawa? Aka mu na unu ji oji'. Then it is returned to the host for blessing.

The host then hands the Kolanut over to either the highest title holder from his place present in the room or the eldest person from his place for blessing.

Whoever is to bless the Kolanut does so holding one piece aloft. He keeps it as his own after blessing it.

After the Kolanut is blessed, the youngest male in the room takes over and splits the Kolanuts into pieces. Remember. No horizontal splits. Remember also. If any of the Kolanuts have 6 parts, ana emereya mmemme. There will be a separate ceremony for it.

In sharing the split parts, care is taken by the young sharer to share according to seniority in descending order. This aspect could also lead to quarrels & raised voices as age is sometimes dragged here. Again, women cannot dip hand in the tray. A proximate male picks for them.

Oji Igbo cannot be split using a knife (aru). It is placed on a hard surface & the top hit with the heel of the palm to loosen it. Then separated according to its parts & the parts split further vertically by making incisions in the middle using your nails. A delicate task.