Journal Pages

Date: Friday, June 13, 2008

Page: 6
The quote: "Thank you. He who brings kola brings life."

This quote seemed peculiar to me. I later found out that the kola nut may be used to treat asthma and the whooping cough, easing hunger pains, and it is also used for ceremonies with guests and tribal chiefs. It consists of caffeine, cocoa, tea, coffee, guarana, and yerba mate. It may effect the central nervous system and heart, and it has fat burning effects. The fact that Okoye states that "He who brings kola, brings life," is coherent because the kola nut was considered healthy, discluding the oral and gastrointestinal cancer which could be linked with the practice of chewing the kola nuts. We created coca cola with kola nuts and cocoa leaves which are both strong stimulants which we sold worldwide. Before the formula had been perfected it carried some amounts of cocaine (which were from the cocoa leaves), hence the nickname "Coke." Coca Cola was entirely free of cocaine in 1929, and they had only started their work of perfecting it in 1891. Okoye had not known the effect of "life" kola would bring.

The conversation between Okoye and Unoka had left me wondering what some of their customs were. The other custom was taking "a pinch of snuff." After the Kola nut issue I immediately thought of cocaine, and I was correct. The white snuff is a mixture of menthol and cocaine for insufflation, and acatarrh snuff is a powder used for insufflation for coryza, which is your nose being plugged when you have a cold. It would have been interesting to watch the conversation between the two Nigerians and their customs. I had only understood the context of the customs and I wanted to fully understand their concepts. Finding out what I had, I linked the notions to another odd traditional custom. The customs I researched are quite interesting and elaborate, and I wanted to share my findings.
(These are my reflections about the customs and traditions that I researched for further information.)
My RESEARCH:
Snuff:NATURES HELPERS:- Perfect health through nutritionkola nut@Everything2.com
A Pinch of Snuff
snopes.com: Cocaine in Coca-Cola
Coca cola company history
Kola nut - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Date: Friday, June 13, 2008

Page: 10
The quote: "When the moon is shining, the cripple becomes hungry for a walk."

This quote expressed the sadness of old age. In old age one longs for rest and remembering their youth. Some doddering old people long to feel young again, and they become hungry the anticipation of a shining moon and that chance. Day after day they retire to their homes, some stay in bed, others just sit in the same chair. They just sit and let the years pass by and they begin to feel apathetic about death, for they only wait for that time. Their minds become a fog and their eyes glaze over with indifference, because there are few chances at life.