What does kola nut symbolize

There are many health benefits such as a stimulus to increase your heart rate, prevent bacterial infections and boost metabolic rate. After quickly researching what this actual nut is and its nutritional information, I looked back at Graceland and can see that this nut has some importance, especially for the ghetto of Lagos.

In order to prevent infectious diseases and to remain healthy in an unhealthy environment, kola was a resource that was easy to be found in Nigeria. As we reach each chapter, the kola nut description at the top of every new chapter embraces an additional meaning, the kola nut ritual. So to further my knowledge, I did ample research on the kola nut, its ritual, ceremony and the importance of it as well. The kola nut symbolizes hospitality, respect, and friendship.

The kola nut is used ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, infant naming ceremonies and medical purposes. There are anywhere between 2 and 16 nuts and once they are blessed, they are broken and removed from their shell. It is important to break up the nuts because a number of pieces it breaks into means how successful and prosperous the visitor will be.

The sum of the number of pieces determines how many successful the visitor will have. However, if the nut only breaks in two, it reveals a sinister motive. After researching this ritual, I looked backed at Graceland and noticed that Abani is a genius! Instead if telling a tale of a boy who is attempting to escape from his current lifestyle and find a new way of living as well as the ability to pursue his dreams, Abani embraces the Nigerian traditions and allows the reader to slowly grasp the kola nut ceremony.

Each passage perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the chapter. Here is a short video that will allow you to have a better understanding of the sacred ritual of the Kola Nut. It is not in English, but it will give you a better understanding of what occurs in this ceremony. This is true.

After viewing the youtube video, I got the message that the Kola Nut brings life. With the thought of keeping a simple kola nut in mind, there is no negative thoughts. The kola nut is repeated at the start of each chapter because it gives a moment of clarity to the reader.

This makes Graceland a little better to understand. It enhances the chapter and all of the characters in it with a clear thought. He had no idea how he got there. I think this is an excellent post because it draws such close attention to something so small. However, despite his pride for his country, he understands that the living conditions are not suitable.

The nut is a symbol of new beginnings and changes, while still capturing his culture. The information provided was much appreciated, Brittany. When reading through the chapters of Graceland, the sections before each chapter did not stand out to me at first.

After that, the host gets the plate returned from the visitor and takes one of the kola nuts and gives it to the visitor while saying:. This proverb says that the visitor needs to show the kola nut to his people at home as a proof of having visited this village. Igbo Kola Nut Ceremony. Usually, the oldest man among the host audience is asked to bless the kola nuts. He will take one of the nuts in his right hand and makes a blessing, prayer or toast using a proverb, e.

Subsequently, the presenter or an appointed person breaks the kola nut with his hands or using a knife. An aid or close relative breaks the remaining nuts. The visitors now explain the purpose of their visit, while the kola parts are distributed to the people, occasionally coming along with palm wine, garden eggs and peanut butter.

As mentioned before, it is the breaking that is the significant part of the ceremony. The more parts the kola breaks up to, the more prosperity it gives to its presenter and visitors. Though there is one exception: if the nut yields only to two parts, it signifies no good as it signals that the presenter has a sinister motive behind the kola. Four parts coincide with the four market days of the Igbo week. Five or more broken parts mean prosperity for the family.

In some parts of Igboland, when the kola breaks into six, a separate celebration is required and sometimes even including the slaughter of a goat.