IMPORTANCE OF KOLA NUT
The kola nut is the fruit of the kola tree, a genus (Cola) of trees that are native to the Shagamu Ogun State Nigeria and of Africa in general. The caffeine-containing fruit of the tree is used as a flavoring ingredient in beverages, and is the origin of the term "cola"Uses
The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine. It is chewed in many west africa countries, individually or in a group setting. It is often used ceremonially, presented to chiefs or guests.Kola nuts are perhaps best known to Yoruba's as a flavoring ingredient and one of the sources of caffeine in cola and other similarly flavored beverages, although the use of kola (or kola flavoring) in commercial cola drinks has become uncommon.
History
Human use of the kola nut, like the coffee berry and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins.Kola nuts are an important part of the traditional spiritual practice of culture and religion in West Africa, particularly Niger, Nigeria and Liberia. The 1970s hit "Goro City", by Manu Dibango, highlights the significance of kola nuts (called "goro" in the Hausa language north part of Nigeria) to the capital of Niger, Niamey. Kola nuts are used as a religious object and sacred offering during prayers, ancestor veneration, and significant life events, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. They are also used in a traditional divination system called Obi (in Yoruba language) divination. For this use, only kola nuts divided into four lobes are suitable. They are cast upon a special wooden board and the resulting patterns are read by a trained diviner. This ancient practice is currently enjoying increased growth within the United States and Caribbean.
They were used as a form of currency in some West African people groups such as the Malinke and Bambara of Mali and Senegal. They are still used as such today in certain situations such as in negotiation over bride prices or as a form of a respect or host gift to the elders of a village should one move to a village or enter a business arrangement with the village.
In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia, John Pemberton took extracts of kola and coca and mixed them with sugar, other ingredients, and carbonated water to invent the first cola soft drink. His accountant tasted it and called it "Coca Cola". Cocaine (but not the other extracts from the Peruvian coca leaf) was prohibited from soft drinks in the U.S.
