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Notes on Kola Nut
The spread of the kola nut across North Africa and the spread of Islam across North Africa seem to be connected during the 17th century, as trading across the Mediterranean became more concrete. The kola nut was particularly useful on slave ships to improve the taste of water, as enslaved Africans were often given poor quality water to drink.

A kola nut ceremony is briefly described in Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel Things Fall Apart. The eating of kola nuts is referred to at least a further ten times in the novel showing the significance of the kola nut in pre-colonial 1890s Igbo culture in Nigeria. One of these sayings on kola nut in Things Fall Apart is: "He who brings kola brings life."

It is also featured prominently in Chris Abani's 2004 novel GraceLand. The kola nut is also mentioned in The Color Purple by Alice Walker, although it is spelled "cola".

History

Origins in West African forest

Evolution: Over 40 different varieties, four have been crucial to the trading in West Africa

Uses

Although the nut is chewed rather than used in beverages and foods in West Africa, it is said to be effective in refreshing, nourishing, and energizing the body, similar to products such as tea or cocoa.

Kola nut is commonly used as an extract,

The Kola nut is particularly significant in Nigerian culture, though its uses vary throughout each tribe. For example, in Igbo rituals, the kola nut is highly regarded, as the Igbo people present it to deities and spirits in hope that they might continue to live in peace.