This year’s edition of the Ofala Festival, backed by Globacom, kicked off on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
The celebration of the festival is meant to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Onitsha people and is an avenue for the paramount ruler to perform some sacred traditional obligations.
In addition to this, the festival serves as a celebration by the Obi of Onitsha and his subjects sequel to his annual emergence from seclusion, during which period he successfully negotiates the fortunes of the kingdom. It is also a re-enactment of the joy which the traditional ruler shared with his subjects at the discovery that yam is non-toxic, and is a valuable nutritional source.
This year, the youth carnival had participants including Youth cultural groups such as Agbalanze (Ozo title holders), Egbenuoba (warriors of Onitsha), Egwu Edo (girls dance group), Di Okpa (family heads), Omu (bearers of children) and Otu Odu (women title holders) participated in the carnival, dancing through the streets of Inland Town, Onitsha, in celebration of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
Nigeria’s diverse cultures were also celebrated by different youth groups dressed to represent the Yorubas, the Fulanis, Edos, Igalas, Ijaws, etc. There were also “Obi of Onitsha”, “Oba of Benin”, and “Oni of Ife” among the youths.
Globacom said in a press statement that the Ofala celebrations will continue with the Iru Ofala on Saturday, October 14, and the Azu Ofala on Sunday, October 15.
The company has equally slated a Royal Banquet in honour of the Obi of Onitsha on Tuesday, October 17. The banquet will be held at the Golden City Events Centre, Residency Drive, Onitsha.
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