PRESERVATION OF THE IGBO KOLA-NUT

PRESERVATION OF THE IGBO KOLA-NUT

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The Preservations of the lgbo kolanut is very important and it's required special and constant care, because of the nature's of the nut, after removing the nut from the pods ( shell ) of the kolanut, after harvesting, it is very necessary to preserved it, even the kolanut ''pod' serves as a preserving cassing for the nut, for a while.

The nut of the kolanut as we know, did not like harsh-weather, hot temperature, or direct sunlight, that will cause it's to be dried up, there by making it, unable for human consumptions.

So kolanut as we observed required some level of natural cool temperature or humidity, like the one, from natural pod's, to protect it from the above conditions.

Another thing thats affects the, ' nut', of the kolanut, when not properly kept is the kolanut tiny maggot or buds that's infests the fruits some time from the tree or after harvesting.

Therefore to prevent these unwholesome conditions that's makes the kolanut unable for human consumptions, there is the need for proper Preservations of the kolanut.

According to the lgbo people, the history of preserving the kolanut, (Oji lgbo) is dated back right from the time of 'Eri', when he noticed that Oji-lgbo ( kolanut ) needs some level of attention in the area of Preservations and since he is a very busy type of person, and does not have such time to give the kolanut not, from the care it's needed at that time, 'he', 'Eri', assigned the task of preserving the kolanut to his youngest wife, who, from thence, preserved and bring the kolanut to 'Eri', when, he, asked her to for his numerous visitors, that's visits his house.

Anedo ( 2009 / 223 ) said thus…..'' Ma mgbe Eri' lere anya hu na ya enweghi ike ime ihe di na nchekwebe Oji o haara oru hanye n'aka nwunye ya nke nta, o bu nwunye ya hu chekwebre Oji ahu nke oma, nke mere na mgbe obula obia biara nwunye ya agaa ebe o dowere ya weta ya ma bunye di ya ka o cheere obia.

Just starting from this era of the kolanut Preservations by 'Eri', to his, wife, the lgbo kolanut as a people, to dates, the tasked of keeping and preserving of the kolanut is the exclusive work of the woman of the house, presentations and blessings of the kolanut is the work, left for the man.

The traditional way's of the Preservations of the kolanut, is by the use of fresh banana leaf's, newboulder leaf's, 'Ogburu-lyanka', leaf's, local name by Isukwuato people, (local shrub leaf) and plantains leaves, gather and wrap the nut with any, or combinations of these fresh leaves very well, and put the wrapped nut into an earthen pot and cover with a matched lids, and keep the pot in a very cool place, away from direct sunshine, harsh, hot, heat environment, after that, monitor it from time to time and change the leaves, whenever you noticed that the fresh leaf's is weak, by so doing the kolanut will be in good condition for a very long time.

There are other methods of the Preservations of Oji lgbo ( lgbo- kolanut ) in various parts of the lgbo land (soil) but due to the nature's of this write up, time will not permits us to mention all of them.

Gi bu nwaanyi imuta kwala ka iga na esi, echekwara di gi Oji, ka o wee noo ogologo oge, ma di kwa nma, otuta na ilee ndi obia?.