Betelnut, Kola Nut, Khat and "Bisnis"

 Betelnut and Bisnis in Papua New Guinea

• Betelnut has both cosmological and economic value
• Economic exchange always has social meaning
• Exchange is necessary in all cultures in creating and maintaining relationships both within and outside of kin relationships
• It is humanities 4th most widely used drug after nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine. (WOW)
• Most widely used drug in South Asia along with kava
• both can be consumed with little ceremony or as part of elaborate rituals
• Like Caffeine or nicotine, Betelnut gives one energy, clarity of focus and allows one to perform for extended periods of time while sating hunger.
• FILM

Cosmological Meanings of Betelnut:

• Myth:
• Mekeo: Connects the chewing of betelnut with the knowledge of childbirth and preparing food (cooking). Identifies Betelnut as an aspect of a "cultured" human being. One who understands important knowledge.
• Chewed after eating
• if given by a woman to.a man it is a proposition
• Highlights the ways to affect appropriate conduct
• lowlands where betelnut is prevalent
• Fuyuge:
• Gab ritual unites both the larger desirable lowland variety and the smaller undesirable highland variety
• myth and ritual recount the imagery of "splitting" which allows for cosmological life (amede practitioner) and actual life (women giving birth) to be sustained. 

KOLA NUT in the Sudan: Cultural Meaning

•  Everyday hospitality
• one should always offer to one's visitors, particularly in muslin countries where hospitality is expected.
• chewed after dinner on special occasions and in affluent families
• offered as one would offer one a cigar on special occasions. 
• Emirites
• prescribed gift giving
• distributed on Fridays by officials
• used in important religious festivals
• Ritual expectations 
• given as gifts
• given at children's naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals, agreements of all sorts
• given by suitors
• offered in the consummation of marriage as an enticement to the bride
• thought to intensify male sexuality
• and a counter to female sexual inhibition
• avoid pregnancy by wearing a Kola nut wrapped in leather around their waist
• Bori spirit medium cult
• distributed kola as a mark of possession
• equated with spirit possession and sexual penetration at a ritual level
• Regulation of human relationships, especially those between men and women
• overcome heartache
• make one wiser
• make a conversation enjoyable
• combat a curse
• antidote for sorcery
• Men and work/women and beauty
• distributed to men as compensation, but also as a way to combat fatigue.
• women use it to beautify teeth
• Medicinal uses are many is Arabic literature
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Khat

• Khat must be used within 36 hours of harvesting for it to maintain its potency.
• It is consumed in its fresh, natural form
• exchange is necessary and happens quickly through well established channels of relationships
• illicit drug or commodity?
• Colonial govts. attempted to ban or severely restrict it
• native cultures continue to use it every day as a way to establish and maintain social relationships through reciprocity
• the "equal" exchange of goods and services 
• Ban in Somalia led to 6the Civil War there
• led to the collapse of a govt in yemen
• against Islamic law?
• New drug control authorities following WWI tried to eradicate it once again
• Associated with anti-Somali immigrant measures in US and Canada and Europe
• Gender and use
• Somali women have spearheaded efforts to ban Khat
• Do not have access to direct purchase. Only through men
• associated with prostitutes who are able to trade
• use as a liesure activity for men
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