There is something unique that can be used in identifying every society in the world. Indeed, this identification mark is, however more visible with societies that are homogeneous in nature. This could have being the case with Sagamu, a society identified with the cultivation and production of kolanuts in South-Western Nigeria.
The ancient town of Sagamu in the old Ijebu-Remo Province is a Town located in Ogun State, near the Ibu River in south-western Nigeria. Nitida (Kolanut) was introduced into the agricultural economy of South-Western Nigeria between 1880 and 1920.
In Nigeria, it is an important cultural symbol for many ethnic groups. Kola nuts also feature at weddings, naming ceremonies, and much else. They were even offered as gifts when an individual visited another, and have become a vital part of social relations. The Igbo also eulogise the nut by saying “He who brings Kola brings life.”
Long time ago, kolanuts would leave for Saudi Arabia through Sudan. It was a huge caravan of merchants and there were resting points along the way, and Nigerian communities soon emerged along the route. At a point merchants would arrive the town, buy huge amounts of Kola nut and fly planeloads of same to Saudi Arabia where there are countless patrons of the nut.
There was also a time when trailer loads of Kola nut would leave for northern Nigeria several times a week. It was a golden age and the trade in Kola nuts created numerous millionaires of both sexes. It also released markets, middlemen and kola merchants in many parts of the South-West. The Kola trade drew Hausa merchants and clerics to Sagamu, and the community soon began to swell. Many Kola traders built numerous houses in Sagamu, and they were able to send their children to places such as the United Kingdom to study. The markets popularity grew in leaps and bounds. In Sagamu the Kola trade is largely a woman’s business and this is very obvious when you arrive the market.
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Fast facts:
- The Hausa of northern Nigeria are known to be the greatest consumers of kolanuts. Indeed, the virtues of kola were known to them about eight hundred years ago.
- It was so much in demand that, it was believed that some in the Muslim north would spend their last coins to procure a lobe to chew. Kolanuts were stimulants equivalent to coffee which was very much in demand among their oriental co-religionists.
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- Kolanut equates with dry dates of the Bedouin Arabs in its ability to satisfy the cravings of hunger and thirst, enabling them to work for longer periods without tiredness and keep them awake for a longer period. This was corroborated by the Arabs who used it in crossing the broad expanse of the Sahara towards the Mediterranean Sea.
- The nut is relatively large, being about the size of a chestnut.
- The kola nut has a bitter taste but becomes sweeter, as it is chewed.
10 health benefits of kola nuts;
1. Kola nuts help fight cancer.
2. Kola nuts could help you suppress your appetite .
3. Help in Weight Loss.
4. Increase Alertness: The caffeine content in kola nuts makes it a good stimulant.
5. Boost Immune System.
6. Reduce Constipation.
7. Helps To Prevent Action Bacterial Diseases in the Body.
8. Used As Flavoring Agent in Drinks.
9. Serves As A Natural Therapy For Cold.
10. Treat Respiratory Illnesses.
Interesting right!!
