ỊNAKAMMA N’EMUME ỌJỊ N’OKO

Abstract

In this write-up, the ritual ceremony of Oko people of Oshimili South in Delta State which is the observance on kolanut with six or seven lobes is surveyed.The write-up is provoked as a result of gifts offered to the person who killed a livestock with which the ritual ceremony is observed by Oko people.The objective of the write up is to highlight the ritual observance of Oko on kolanut with six or seven lobes in order to broaden the scope of kolanut lore of Igbo. Some of the archetypal statements accompanying kolanut and its presentation are also analyzed.The main source of data in this essay is from observation, oral interview as well as library materials. In the final analysis, the finding revealled that six-lobed kolanut brings about a small feast in Oko, while the seven-lobed kolanut attracts a big ceremony with livestock to be killed for its ritual observance. The presenter of the kolanut and the person who killed the livestock for the feast are offered gifts by the people and the entire community in case of the kolanut with seven lobes. The gifts offered to the person who killed the livestock for the feast is known as encouragement of knife - {nakamma. In conclusion and as a way of susggestion, students and researchers in the Igbo language are advised to embark on researches in various communities in Igbo on their ritual observance on kolanuts of the above category. Hence it would help to organize a comprehensive literature on kola lore of Igbo.