Ofala Festival, celebrated yearly in Onitsha, Anambra State, starts on Friday, October 18. The event is sponsored by digital solutions provider, Globacom.
Ofala, the biggest traditional festival in the South Eastern part of the country, is an occasion for the monarch to fulfil certain cultural obligations, and primarily a celebration by the Igwe and his subjects of his annual emergence from seclusion, during which period he successfully negotiates the fortunes of the kingdom.
The festival is slated to hold as usual, at the Ime Obi, the palace of the traditional ruler of the kingdom, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
Globacom said in a press statement in Lagos on Wednesday that the first day of the ceremony, which is called Iru Ofala, holds on Friday. The last day of the festival which is the Azu Ofala is billed for Saturday, October 19.
The theme of the 2024 edition of the festival is “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance” (Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe), which reflects the traditional ruler’s message of hope and resilience in the face of prevailing hardship in the country.
Said Globacom, “We are proud to once again partner with the Ofala Steering Committee to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. The Ofala is a celebration of our nation’s diversity and resilience, and we are honoured to be a part of it”.
As part of the annual event, a Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of the Onitsha monarch, Igwe Achebe will hold at the Ime Obi on Wednesday, October 23.