By Nnedinma Michael
The ancient city of Onitsha came alive once again as the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, marked this year’s grand Ofala Festival — a magnificent celebration of heritage, unity, and resilience that continues to define the spirit of the Onitsha kingdom.
Among the dignitaries who graced the colourful occasion were the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and Anambra businessman and politician, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who joined the royal father and his subjects in festivities that drew guests from across Nigeria and beyond.
Prince Ukachukwu, who paid homage to the revered monarch, described Igwe Achebe as “a great ruler and a pride of the Igbo nation,” commending his wisdom and leadership in sustaining the cultural heritage of the people. He was warmly received by titled chiefs, women groups, and traditional societies, who offered prayers for peace, progress, and his continued success in public service.
The Ofala Festival, celebrated annually under the reign of the Obi of Onitsha, remains one of the most iconic cultural events in Igbo land. This year’s edition, themed “Njikoka na Ntachi” (Unity and Perseverance), highlighted the values of togetherness and resilience amid changing times.
The festival, which spans several days, features a series of rich cultural and intellectual activities, including the Ofala Lecture Series, Oreze Art Exhibition, Ofala Youth Carnival, and a community medical outreach. Its climax will be the Iru Ofala and Azu Ofala ceremonies, during which the Obi, adorned in regal splendour, dances before his people in a majestic display of tradition and royal pageantry, accompanied by his red-capped chiefs and age-grade societies in dazzling attire.
The Ofala of Onitsha, instituted centuries ago, continues to serve not only as a royal thanksgiving but also as a living emblem of the unity and enduring pride of the Igbo people.
