Igbo have two types of palm wine. One is 'ngwo', the other, is 'nkwu enu'. Ngwo is the one that is tapped from the raffia palm that grows on river, stream and lake banks. Nkwu enu is the one that is tapped from the regular oil palm tree. The stuff is milky white in colour. Ngwo can be very sweet, while nkwu enu can be bitter sweet.
These two are the only alcoholic beverages that the Igbos produced, and since the Igbos produced or identified them, they have been companions to the Igbos. On virtually all Igbo occasions, sad or happy, be sure to find ngwo and nkwu enu; in earthen jars; beside the discussants waiting to be quaffed.
According to an European missionary who lived and studied the Igbos in the early 20 th century: 'the ngwo plantations furnish huge qualities of wine. In appearance, and in taste, it resembles the old-fashioned stone bottle ginger beer; it is pleasant to drink and very refreshing. The strictest teetotaler may drink freely of this without experiencing undue excitement….. nkwu enu…. is never wasted, however by the old men. One is bound to admit that there is, on the whole, very little drunkenness from palm wine drinking'.
I have taken time to study the original and traditional Igbo life and setting. If a child is born, palm wine is present during its circumcision party, at its dedication and redemption; during betrothal and marriage it is available. It is present during divorce. And in funerals great qualities must be present. My conclusion is that it is the companion of the Igbos.
As discussions are going on, drinking will also be going on. If the occasion is a joyful one 'a na ama njakiri' (cracking of jokes and making of jest) will also be going on. Discussions are best done with palm wine flowing
I have always suspected that ancient Israelites had the above-described feature in their lifestyle. In 2005, when Daniel Lis "Igbo" a Swiss-Israeli anthropologist visited, and I took him on a four of Igbo land I wanted to find out how he would react to the Igbos and palm wine. At Nri we had an occasion in the house of Mazi Nnacheta Obudulu. Mineral, water, beer and nkwu enu were all available. You know what happened? Everybody including Dan gravitated to the palm wine, and he equally participated in the ima njakiri with me as his special target.
Before he left for Switzerland , he interviewed me for 2hours. At every turn he would break the monotony with Igbo jokes about palm wine. And after he left, during a meeting of Igbos in Switzerland, which he attended, Dan told me that all was well except that palm wine was not available, so the tete a tete was not lively enough.
In 2006 the Forest Foundation established a Moishe House in Abuja Nigeria . I was/am privileged to live in it. When I studied the aims and objectives of the institution, I discovered that it is very much like the authentic, original and traditional Igbo family setting. Related people and friends gathering regularly to discuss, eat, and spice up the discussions with palm wine. Recently I was having a tete a tete with Levi, my brother of the forest foundation. If all things had been equal, palm wine would be available, but the Atlantic Ocean was a real barrier. But mere mention of the whitish stuff animated our talk, and you know what my brother said. He said 'I wish you could ship some of that delicious palm wine to me'. And do you know what I did. I jumped into my Mercedes, and drove around Abuja searching for the stuff. In the evening I found one gallon, and proceeded to the house of Oliver Zurishaddai Asogwa, the vice president of beth knesseth siyahh Israel . On sighting the nkwu enu Oliver jumped out, with his one year old Moshe, in his arms, and hollered at his wife to get us tumblers. I told him that the stuff was for our brother Levi. Oliver didn't listen. He poured a glass for himself. At that stage, I joined him, and even little Moshe joined, and we downed poor Levi's palm wine.
'See that's what happened to the supply for Levi'.
Well Oliver promised that anytime Levi comes this way that he'll teach him how to tap the wine, so that he will be compensated doubly for his loss.
The photo is of Remy, Oliver and little Moshe enjoying nkwu enu!
No comments:
Post a Comment