By Kamsi Anayo
Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe is set to mark his 20th coronation celebration (Iru-Ofala) at Ime Obi Onitsha between Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.
Igwe Achebe will also be using the occasion of the celebration to commemorate the thanksgiving for his 20th coronation anniversary.
The monarch ascended the throne of Eze Chima 20 years ago on May 14, 2002, which coincidentally was his 61st birthday.
The Ofala date back about 700 years ago, at the time of Eze Chima is the high point of the Onitsha ceremonial cycle. The Obi of Onitsha is the celebrant of this spectacle which is rooted in deep spirituality. The Ofala is
an occasion for the monarch to fulfil certain obligations.
It is primarily a celebration by the monarch and his subjects of the monarch’s annual emergence
from seclusion, during which period the monarch has successfully negotiated the fortunes of the kingdom.
It is also a re-enactment of the joy which the monarch shares with his subjects, at the discovery that yam is non-toxic, and a valuable
source of food.
Four days before the festival, the Igwe goes into seclusion. He retreats to commune with his ancestors, and to thank them for protecting him and his subjects for the past one year as well as pray for peace and prosperity in the year to come. On the day of the festival, the Obi makes three appearances.
After the early morning rituals, the trumpeters announce his entry before he shows up, fully dressed in his royal regalia, highlighted with the royal crown (okpu ododo), acknowledging the crowd that would have gathered by waving at all the directions to the people and then returns inside.
It serves as a rites of renewal of the king or Obi.The term ofala, is derived from two Igbo words – ofo (authority) and ala (land).The festival is celebrated within two days mostly in October by the king.
Speaking at a Press Conference in Onitsha on Thursday, Chief Mike Areh, the Onya Ozoma of Onitsha, and Chairman of the Ofala Steering Commitee observed that “the Onicha Ado N’Idu community is looking forward to celebrating the 2022 Ofala in the normal way after two years in which the Covid-19 Pandemic has meant that the ceremonies have had to hold devoid of the usual fanfare.
He added, “we shall now move on with the process of getting the
Ofala, to attain the status of a major event in the Nigerian, and by extension in the West African cultural/tourism calendar’’.
Chief Areh commended Globacom and International Breweries Plc, the official sponsors of the Ofala.
He said that Globacom has been partnering with the Onitsha Traditional Council since 2011, adding that the relationship between these bodies and the Onitsha community has
contributed in no small measure to the growth and development of the Ofala.
According to him, many dignitaries were expected to grace the event including various state governors and candidates of various political parties.
Mr Michael Ehumadu, Globacom Regional Sales Manager, Enugu said “We are greatly delighted to be part of this year’s Ofala Festival celebration, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic prevented us from holding the festival in 2020 and 2021.”
According to him, since the company signed the Memorandum of Understanding to be the major sponsor of the prestigious event in 2011, it had always looked forward to partnering with the Palace and the Festival Planning Committee to ensure each year’s edition outstrips the previous years in grandeur and style.
“This is not just because of our commitment to preserving our rich cultural heritage, but it is also driven by our belief in the huge potentials of Ofala and other important festivals in boosting our tourism and travel industry,” he said.
