Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Kola

I think that I have written a blog about kola greetings before, but I am re-visiting the topic after our recent trip.  It is a  tradition that continues to be observed in various parts of Liberia today. There is a tree that produces the kola nut.  As a means of welcoming visitors, the host offers kola, which originally was the nut. Because the actual kola nut can effect the system like an amphetamine, the ceremony has now been adapted to include other food or drinks in its place. Kola is all about welcoming strangers into the home or locale and ensuring that they are received properly and with due respect and to determine the purpose of their visit.  After the host’s remarks, the visitor then reciprocates by receiving the kola with open hands and extending a blessing on the place. We participated in this reception several times as we moved further away from the capital city and into the interior.

The first place we received kola was in Salala.  It consisted of potato greens and rice.
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In Kanweakan it was cassava and soft drinks.
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Fish Town served the actual kola nut with ground peppers and water and soft drinks.
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Kola greetings have a way of making you feel at home, even when you are far from home.

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