Kola Nuts

Kola Nut
Kola nuts (or cola nuts) are the seed pods of various evergreen trees that are native to Africa; Sterculiaceae cola vera is the scientific name of the most common species. The kola nut trees, which grow as tall as 60 feet (18 meters), are most common in Western Africa.

Kola nuts are important in many African societies, particularly in Western Africa. Besides the fact that Kola nuts contain caffeine and act as a stimulant and anti-depressant, they are also thought to reduce fatigue and hunger, aid digestion, and work as an aphrodisiac. Kola nuts can be found in soft drinks such as Coca Cola. In some parts of Africa, kola nuts are given as gifts to visitors entering a home, usually with some formal ceremony. Offering the kola nut is a gesture of friendship and hospitality.

Breaking the Kola nut with friends and family is like passing the peace pipe in Native American cultural or breaking bread in other cultures. It is ritual of bringing people together. Sounds familiar? Many family and cultural tradition involved food and a gathering of people. Food does bring people together. If we think about our heritage and different cultural we can think of many ways of people coming together, solving problems, celebrating, grieving all over food.

In the book, the Kola Nut was the meeting ground for the different tribes. Everything was centered around the Kola Nut. In the book, major decisions wasn't made until the kola nut was broken. It is like the Kola Nut was a center of piece for the moment. If we think back after we have had a good meal or drink we are a little calm down and able to make more rational decisions then on an empty stomach.