Kola cultures

Series

A young woman wears a patterned outfit and a headscarf and stands against a dark background. She is balancing a yellow bowl filled with kola nuts on her head. Her expression is neutral and composed.

A young woman skillfully balances a bowl of kola nuts on her head, Photos: Yaw Afrim Gyebi for Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

For centuries, the kola nut has been cherished in West Africa for its potent medicinal benefits and cultural significance. So how did this revered nut transcend its local roots to become a cornerstone ingredient in one of the world's most iconic soft drinks?

In this collection, we get up close and personal with the kola nut.

Take a look at close-up imagery of the kola nut to better understand its unique physical appearance, various life stages and many health-enhancing properties. Hear from experts across Ghana sharing traditional knowledge on cultivating, selling, and utilising the kola nut for better health in today's interconnected world. And explore how a surprising mix of colonialism, 19th-century science and consumerism led to the transportation, extraction and reinvention of the kola nut.

Photo story

Kola nuts, close up

Yaw Afrim Gyebi explores the physical characteristics of the kola nut and its medicinal properties, which evolve throughout its life cycle.

Photo story

Nothing without kola

Yaw Afrim Gyebi travels through Ghana to meet the people who grow and use kola nut for its many practical and symbolic purposes.

In pictures

Cola’s complicated roots

How one of the most famous soda drinks in the world got its name from a traditional West African delicacy.

About the authors

Yaw Afrim Gyebi

Yaw Afrim Gyebi, also known as YAG, is a Ghanaian documentary photographer and visual storyteller based in Accra, and specialises in humanitarian, environmental and social justice issues. His work focuses on themes of cultural heritage, community resilience, and amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.

A photo of Vanesha leaning over a table, reading a book.

Vanesha Kirita Singh

(she/her)

Vanesha is a Digital Editor at Wellcome Collection, specialising in storytelling that centres lived experience and social justice. Her practice is shaped by decolonial and anti‑imperial politics, rooted in a deep commitment to collective liberation. She works to create caring, supportive spaces for writers and artists, and strives to empower those who are misrepresented and excluded from mainstream discourse. Vanesha is particularly drawn to storytelling that explores solidarity and resistance. Her personal research focuses on Caribbean histories, especially the system of indentureship and its ongoing legacies.

Lalita Kaplish