Onitsha’s Ofala Festival

The Ofala festival is an occasion when all Indigenes of Anambra State in the East of Nigeria, come together to dance, sing, meet old friends and making new ones.

Every year, the town witnesses a gathering of cultural enthusiasts from far and near, to celebrate the Ofala festival. It is a Nigerian cultural festival, which drew the legendary Jackson brothers to Nigeria in 2011. By all intents and purposes, a big one.

Men and women dress in their traditional attires and dance to the heart-pulsating beat of traditional drummers and make merry. The festival arena is the palace, considered a sacred ground. Various cleansing and blessing rites are carried out at the King's palace before the actual preparation for the big occasion.

A highlight of the festival is the king's entrance in his royal regalia and decorated crown (okpu ododo), which is announced by traditional trumpeters. Earlier on, the red-cap chiefs (ndiichie), in their own traditional attires arrive independently, each accompanied by his own village music. They proceed to the king's throne in order of seniority. There, they pay homage to the king by kneeling on the floor and bowing down before him.

The celebration then continues as they dance, according to seniority, to the tune of the sacred royal music and drums (egwu ota) at intervals of three along the palace ground. The beat also changes in accordance with their respective titles and positions. The royal music sets the rhythm for the Obi's dancing during his three outings. These royal drums, like most traditional ones, are made by stretching animal hides over a frame. Sometimes, these are tied together with raw hides. Other drums are also used, depending on the occasion.

In other words, seniority dictates this interesting activity. The chiefs dance after which the Obi also takes to the floor, dancing to traditional sound from locally-made drums in what is called a royal dance. Shouts of Agbogidi usually rend the air as an evidence of the people's appreciation of their king.

During the festival, the indigenes wear traditional attires and perform dance, while performers wear colourful traditional clothing. The dancing activities usually include beautiful war dances.

When attending this festival, it is very important that respect is shown for the Onitsha history and way of life. More importantly, the festival is a great way to keep the heritage alive because, as it is said, "those who forget where they come from won't know where they are going" ("Onye na amaghi ebe osi bia, eburu ya bufee ama nna ya).

One is often nostalgic about the celebrations associated with these ceremonies, such as watching the “ulaga” and “otuiche” masquerades.” The Ofala festival has been described as the most surviving traditional ceremony of the Onitsha indigenes of Anambra State.

Significantly, the Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi Igwe Alfred Achebe, is the central figure of Ofala festival, being the chief host to all the traditional chiefs (red cap chiefs) as well as dignitaries, including government officials, who grace the event.

It must be emphasised that dance plays a significant role in Ofala festival with all the indigenes trying to outdo one another, singing, dancing and sharing happy mood. Everyone is clad in choice dresses that bring out the cultural value of Onitsha. Like it is in other cultural festivals in other towns, old friends reunite during Ofala festival.

In terms of tourism potential, Ofala festival is certainly sky-bound. The commercial status of Onitsha stands to gain bountifully if this area is explored.