Chief Ogumefu dies, and his youngest son, Koi, does not get a share of the royal possessions when the old Wise Man divvies them up. Being a hunter, Koi arrives from the forest and finds his three older brothers hurrying off with their inherited animals and ivory. Koi asks the old Wise Man for his share, but the older man just stares at him. Then, he finds a little kola nut* tree and hands it over to Koi. Koi, at first, feels cheated but soon realises that he can make something out of the kola nuts. So, he picks the kola nuts from the tree, wraps them in a mat, ties the mat on a kinja** and sets out on the path that leads north from the village. During his journey, he helps a snake, an army of ants and a crocodile who all desperately needed kola nuts – the snake needed kola nuts for its sick mother, the ants needed them to replace the forest Devil’s nuts they ate, and the crocodile needed them to pay for the rainmaker’s dog it ate. Feeling happy to be relieved of his burden, Koi jauntily climbs over the mountain and finds himself in Chief Fulikolli’s kingdom. 

He introduces himself as the son of the great Chief Ogumefu. Chief Fulikolli concludes that he is one of the numerous suitors who want to win over his beautiful daughter, Fula, and half his kingdom. Thus, Koi seizes the opportunity and complies with the Chief’s conditions to complete the three tasks required of every suitor. While at the tasks, Koi solicits the help of the animals he had helped during his journey. Koi finally earns Chief Fulikolli’s trust, the beautiful Fula’s love and half of the kingdom as promised him. He is declared “Chief Koi,” a grand wedding ceremony is organised in honour of him, during which he says to himself, “Now I know it to be true: Do good, and good will come back to you in full measure and overflowing.”

* A wild West African bitter fruit, eaten for its flavour and medicinal properties.

** A kinja is a carrying frame made of sticks or bamboo. It is worn upon the back and held in place by straps across the shoulders. It is common in most parts of Africa.

The story introduces readers to the injustices that sometimes accompany the distribution of an inheritance. The old Wise Man who doles out Chief Ogumefu’s property, in his wisdom, does not put Koi, the youngest son, on the inheritance list. Since older people in Africa are seen to be endowed with much wisdom, the Wise Man must have known, based on Koi’s skills, that he would make a fortune out of any little thing he is given. Koi, for his part, does not give in to despair but makes the best out of what he is given. This demonstration of optimism motivates him to venture into the unknown. The help he gives to the serpent, the ants and the crocodile along the way are repaid to help him accomplish the suitor tasks, which he would not have been able to do by himself. He acknowledges that it is because of his goodness that he gains the trust of Chief Fulikolli and dominion over half of his land and wins the love of beautiful Fula as his wife.

The illustration on the cover shows a little boy sitting under a shrivelling little kola nut tree, with serpents, ants, and a crocodile, looking like all hope is lost. However, in the other illustrations inside the book, optimism sets in when we see him offering kola nuts to these animals. In many West African traditions, kola nuts are sacred and are used for purposes such as accompanying libation to the ancestors, soothsaying and pacts of peace. That is why the Igbo people of Nigeria say, “He who brings kola, brings life.”

Koi’s story encourages young adults to be optimistic about life and expect little or nothing from their parents through inheritance. They can build their legacies by being self-reliant. But they should also strive to maintain positive values like helping those in need without expecting anything in return. Nature will always find a way to reward them.

Abiodum, J. O., The Aged in African Society, Lagos: Nade Nigeria Ltd & F.B. Ventures, 2002. 

Sundstrom G. L., “The Cola nut. Functions in West African social life”, Studia Ethnographica Upsaliensia 26 (1966): 135–146.

Country of origin: Liberia