In Nri Igbo Culture, there is this one ocassion where women break kola in the presence of men and that is in ONWA ALOM CHI. According to Emenike Ikegbune and Ike Nwakọ:
“Alonchi is the celebration of Personal Chi. It is a cult mainly owned and celebrated by the women folk….
The presider is the mother of the home. It is one of those official feasts when women publicly and in men’s presence break Kolanut and offer Prayers like men. However, the first Kolanut before the official celebration will be broken by a man…to welcome the visitors before the actual Ceremony when the woman presides….
The mother of the house takes her seat in front of her mkpume chi. She breaks the Ogu Nzu on the mkpume chi and gives those present some pieces of it, to rub on their feet and around their necks. She offers a Kolanut with …prayers:…
After her prayers she breaks the Kolanut to mark the special day”
Exerpt from the book
IGBO LUNAR CALENDAR: NRI HERITAGE by Emenike Ikegbune and Ike Nwakọ.
