Ofala Festival 2025:  Celebrating unity and resilience

By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor 

This October, the historical metropolis of Onitsha successful Anambra State volition erstwhile again burst into a jubilant show of culture, tradition, and assemblage tone arsenic it hosts the much-anticipated Ofala Festival. Set for October 17 and 18, the 2025 variation promises to beryllium a landmark lawsuit blending deep-rooted indigenous customs with modern taste expressions and developmental initiatives, nether the compelling theme: Njiko na Ntachi—Unity and Perseverance.

The Ofala festival is the heartbeat of Onitsha taste identity. Originating from the 16th century, the Ofala Festival traces its origins to the founding days of Onitsha and has since evolved arsenic the pinnacle of the city’s ceremonial calendar. The festival marks the monarch’s emergence from a revered yearly spiritual seclusion period, a rite that symbolises renewal, protection, and prosperity for the kingdom. In accepted Igbo belief, this emergence is besides a reenactment of the find that yam, a staple food, is not toxic but a life-sustaining gift, a taxable resonant with resilience and gratitude.

Taking spot implicit 2 vibrant days, the festival’s archetypal day, Iru Ofala, focuses connected the monarch’s solemn but colourful nationalist appearances. Dressed successful majestic regalia, the Obi of Onitsha parades the palace grounds 3 times to the energetic beats of warfare drums, accompanied by the Ndichie, oregon redcap chiefs, symbolising the spot and continuity of leadership. The 2nd day, Azu Ofala, shifts the spotlight to the divers property people societies, whose members deterioration coordinated, eye-catching attire arsenic they creation successful homage to their ruler, vividly illustrating assemblage solidarity and pride.

Thr Ofala Festival has immense dynamic socio-economic interaction connected the populace. More than a taste spectacle, the Ofala Festival has go a almighty motor for section economical empowerment and societal cohesion.

The expanding influx of visitors, from locals to planetary tourists, circulates astir N1 cardinal done commerce tied to festival activities each year. This travel enriches a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including traders, hoteliers, caterers, transporters, tailors, and designers.

The elaborate accepted costumes commissioned for the festival substance request for section craftsmanship, portion nutrient and hospitality services payment from the surge of guests. This economical vitality nurtures occupation instauration and contributes tangibly to improved assemblage welfare, lowering transgression rates and fostering a amended prime of life.

Recognising these benefits, the Onitsha Development Fund extends its mandate beyond the festival, sponsoring training, micro-finance, and taste initiatives. These programs are captious successful empowering younker and women entrepreneurs, ensuring that the festival’s prosperity extends year-round.

Over the years, the Ofala Festival has grown to beryllium an inclusive contented binding generations and genders. So, Ofala’s spot lies successful its inclusive taste fabric. From the Owuwaji feast of caller yam to the diviners’ preparations for the monarch’s ineffable seclusion, to the men’s Ogbalido feast of atonement, each conception of nine actively participates. Women clasp salient roles not lone done their culinary excellence but besides via the elite Otu Odu women’s society, and their practice successful property grades cardinal to Azu Ofala’s vibrant creation ceremonies.

Youth engagement shines brightly done the Ofala Youth Carnival, an improvement of the accepted aboriginal greeting Igba Ilo procession. This colorful parade done Onitsha streets raises consciousness and energises younger generations, ensuring the festival remains dynamic and forward-looking.

The 2025 Ofala: Celebrating unity and perseverance

The theme, Njiko na Ntachi, crystallises a important connection for today’s socio-cultural landscape: the powerfulness of unity and the virtuousness of perseverance. As Nigeria and the wider Igbo assemblage look evolving challenges, this taxable acts arsenic a clarion telephone to fortify bonds and prolong corporate resilience.

The 2025 festival expands its scope beyond accepted rituals to clasp planetary creation exhibitions, lecture series, and aesculapian outreach programs, alongside the younker carnival. These additions underline Ofala’s improvement into a multidimensional taste festival with planetary recognition. The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority’s endorsement and a certificate of excellence from th...