The ancient kingdom of Onitsha is set to come alive as the prestigious Ofala Festival, sponsored by telecommunications giant Globacom, commences Friday, October 18, at the Ime Obi palace of Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The two-day cultural celebration will open with the Iru Ofala on Friday and conclude with the Azu Ofala on Saturday, October 19. A Royal Banquet, hosted by Globacom in honor of Igwe Achebe, will follow on Wednesday, October 23, at the palace grounds.
This year’s festival, themed “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance” (Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe), stands as the Southeast’s largest traditional celebration. It marks the Igwe’s annual emergence from seclusion, during which he communes spiritually for the kingdom’s prosperity and fulfills crucial cultural obligations.
Globacom, in a statement released Wednesday, expressed pride in their continued partnership with the Ofala Steering Committee, emphasising the festival’s role in showcasing Nigeria’s cultural heritage and national resilience amid current challenges.