Meaning of Kola Nut

The kola nuts that the characters share with one another upon meeting, symbolize sorrow. The narrator explains that the bitterness of the nut is meant to resemble the bitterness of life. Although the characters are often coming together as friends, they always split the nut in order to remind them of life's inherent sorrows. This dynamic speaks to the novel's overarching commentary on grief and joy, loss and celebration.