THE WAY WE WERE

AKA AKWU:  Palm tree branch / branches.

ISI AKWU:  A semi ball-like head to which palm fruits attach. It can weigh up to 40 pounds depending on the type of oil palm tree.  Isi akwu is found at the very top of oil palm trees, generally more than five, and sometimes up to six fruit bunches can be harvested from one tree at the same time.

IZEGBE AKWU:  Male and female flowers of the oil palm tree. Oil palm trees are cross-pollinated crops with both male and female FFBS. The male flower fertilizes the female flowers. The female flowers produce bunches (Isi akwu) and the male flower, after fertilizing female flowers, becomes what we call Izegbe akwu. Izegbe akwu is used to make Uri Oku.

AKI:  Kernel. The inner nut of the palm fruit.

AKINKO:  Unripe oil palm fruit with a soft white

sweet kernel.

AKI OKPURUKPU:  Large size palm kernel.

OGWO AKWU:  Palm tree trunk. Ogwo akwu is used to build bridges.

OFIA AKWU:  Community-owned oil palm trees. Ofia akwu denotes

public or community ownership.

ABO AKWU:  Palm tree plantation. [Abo is a term use to denote privately

owned palm tree plantation.]

AKIRIKA:  Dried-palm tree branch, with its numerous leaves.

AZIZA:  Broom. The stripped palm stems used to sweep.

EMERE AKWU:  Extractions from the branches of Osukwu palm tree that are twisted into a very strong rope. Emere is used in the production of Mbagu. Emere is also used when an item to be secured (tied) is heavy.

MBAGU:  An instrument used for climbing oil palm trees.

ONYE ELU:  A man who is skilled in the act of climbing and harvesting oil palm tree fruits (bunches) for fees.

IKWO L’ODU AKWU:  The mortar and pestle used to pound palm fruits. Usually larger than the regular everyday mortars.

ISU AKWU:  The process of pounding cooked palm fruits to prepare it for oil production.

IPU AKWU:  The process of squeezing out red palm oil from the pounded cooked palm fruits.

ITU AKWU:  The process of separating palm kernels from avuvu, after oil has been extracted.

NMA AKWU:  A metal instrument used to separate palm kernels from avuvu during the process of oil productions.

AVUVU:  A fiber from palm fruits after oil and the kernels have been removed—waste. Avuvu is used to start fires during the rainy season when firewood is wet.

MANU AKWU:  Red palm oil.

OGURU MANU:  Residual, off-color (yellowish) oil.

IGBI AKWU:  Impurities found in palm oil. Igbi is the accumulation of various

fragments of tiny broken avuvu, kernel shells, water and oguru. These particles

pass through a strainer during palm fruit processing for oil. These tiny particles

are mixed with oil. Igbi is removed from the oil through a special process. The

Bende Igbos use igbi to start fire when firewood is wet. Igbi is also used to make

Izegbe into Uri Oku.

ISI AKWU:  Fruit bunch. (See above). 

MKPURU AKWU:  Oil palm fruits.

OGBILI AKWU:  Empty fruit bunch. A large

semi-ball-like head from oil palm tree, to which

the palm fruits attach. When the fruits are

removed from it, the shell is known as Ogbili

akwu. Ogbili has many traditional uses in our

culture.

NTU OGBILI:  Ogbili ashes. Ogbili ashes are used

in making bathing soap, called Ncha akpala or

Sabulu. This soap is known for its medicinal

values. Ncha akpala is use to cure some forms

of skin disease.

OGARA MAYI AKWU:  Oil palm sap. Sweet palm wine. The sap is very sweet and contains a little alcohol when it is first taken from the palm tree. But the longer it sits, the more it ferments and increases in alcohol strength.

OKU AKWU / NKWU:  A man who is skilled in the act of oil palm Wine-tapping. Through a special process, the tapper collects the sap which is very sweet and contains alcohol. This sap is known as mmanya Nkwu [palm wine].

IGWO (IGWE) AKWU:  A machine used to process oil palm fruits into red palm oil.

ERO AKWU:  Edible palm tree mushroom.

Names of Different Kinds of Akwu Trees

AKWU ABUBA:  Feather-like palm fruits.

AKWU AGRIC:  Created in a laboratory by genetic engineering, akwu agric is a new breed of oil palm tree. It has many distinctions from the traditional (industry average) oil palm trees. Akwu agric has a short trunk. It also has a shorter, more erect fronds. It matures very early. Harvesting starts within 18 months after planting, unlike the regular (industry average) of 30—35 months. It produces high yield in the first year of harvesting and increases yield as it ages. Akwu agric produces more female flowers than males, thus making it yield more fruit bunches than the industry average oil palm trees. Its bunches weighs up to 40 lbs and each tree can produce over 500 bunches in a year. Akwu agric also produces high quality oil. The oil produced by akwu agric is similar to that of the Osukwu palm tree. Because Akwu Agric is not tall, the services of Onye elu is not needed to harvest its multiple fruit bunches.

AKWU OJUKWU:  Is known for its off-yellowish palm oil color. It also contains lots of Oguru manu. But most importantly, the Ojukwu palm tree is known for its medicinal value.

AKWU OSUKWU:  Is known for its meaty sweet fruit and its high production of red palm oil. Osukwu has the smallest kernel size of all oil palm trees.

AKWU OKPURUKPU:  Is known for its over-size fruit bunches which weigh over 40 lbs. It has large fruits. Its

kernel nuts are the largest of all the oil palm trees.

Facts You Should Know About the Oil Palm Tree: 

Oil Palms tree is known as ‘African Oil Palm tree.’ It is originally from West Africa, but they can flourish wherever heat and rainfall are… Oil Palm Trees are only grown in the tropics. Oil Palm Trees are grown on a few Islands in Malaysia and Indonesia and Indonesia and Malaysia make up a majority of all the palm oil in the world.

    For clarity, the word as used in this writing:  Oil Palm Tree, Palm Oil Tree, and Palm Tree. All refer to African Oil Palm Tree that originates from West Africa.