For many, the kola nut trade is not merely a business; it is a way of life. According to Jamilu Sani, a kola merchant at the market, kola nut is a deeply valued commodity. 'Kolanut is a precious ...

The thirsty U.S. spends $3.5 billion a year on soft drinks, and 60% of that money—$2 billion—goes for carbonated cola concoctions based on the West African kola nut, which Africans chew for ...