LESSON FROM THE KOLANUT

ChukwuOkike created the kolanut well.

And from among all seeds, our ancestors chose the kolanut well as the greatest sacramental for the rite of Holy Communion among Umunna, and beween the living and the dead.

Observe, the kola, usually is made up of diverse coteyledons or divisions , interestingly, each division is unique in its size and shape, and sometimes shade. Yet, they all manage to bond as one perfect nut .

Notice also, that despite their fussion into a single seed, each part retains all the traces of its individuality.

As a matter of fact, the more the divisions in a nut, the more it is appreciated and honoured.

So "he who brings kola brings life " by bringing fairness and justice.

This is the wisdom of Chukwu okike and the spirit of our fathers. It is these characters of the sacred kola that NDIGBOO transcribed into the spokenwords for our understanding when they declear:

"Onye biri, ibe ya biri",

"Egbe bere ugo bere",

"Otu nne na amụ mana otu chi anaghi eke".

So each time an Ochie-dike consecrates the kola in the gathering of the umunna, he asserts that, though our faces may be different, yet we like the kola seed, must live as as one people, knowing that..

"Agbatobi onye bu nwanne ya ".

Therefore, it doesnt matter how you feel about our differences we must accept each other's freedom to choose.

Among Ndigbo, as it stands today,there are

Ndi Odinani Igbo,
Jewish Igbo,
Christian Igbo
and even Muslim Igbo.

As unpleasant as this may sound to some people, this is the reality of our time. Therefore as we deal with one another, we must, at all times remember that IGBO, is the common denominator in all the groups, we remain one people. We are first descendants of NDIGBOO, before we are anything else. We must be like the kolanut seed.

Never must we allow ourselves to slide into hate on account of faith. For this will break completely what is left of the backbone of our race from past colonial unslaught.

But I dare say, Unfortunately , the deep guiding principles of the Kolanut has left Christian Igbos, this is why they invade and burn the shrines of odinani with impunity , kill sacred animals and trees and in their frenzy destroy our historical artifacts. Also, this is why there is bitter division even among their own many sects.

But this cannot continue, Christians must live and let live, else some ọdinani youths might soon put aside the principle of Egbe bere ugo bere, and repay them with their own coin. I hope reason will prevail with christians. I hope they repent and imbibe the "spirit of the kolanut"

Onye anwụna ma ibe ya efuna.

Credit: Ozioma Odinana

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