Breaking the kola nut, known as “iwa oj”, is an important Igbo ritual traditionally performed to welcome guests at a gathering or ceremony. During the ceremony, the kola nut (oji) is blessed in Igbo, broken into pieces, and shared with guests, typically by the eldest man present. While the Igbo kola nut breaks into three or more lobes, the number of lobes the oji breaks into is symbolic of the visitors’ fortune.
What is: Iwa Oji?
