ACETNews
The Ofala Steering Committee has announced the official programme of events for the 25th Ofala Festival of His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha beginning tomorrow with the annual seclusion of the Obi of Onitsha —the most sacred and private moment in the Ofala ceremonial cycle.
This year’s festival, with the theme Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru – Strive, and Advance | From Resilience to Progress, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Ofala from a sacred rite of renewal for the Obi into a platform for collective progress for Ndi Onicha.
According to a statement by the Ofala Strategic Marketing & Communications Team, the monarch will be incommunicado for the following native week: Oye, Afor, Nkwo, and Eke, to negotiate the fortunes of the kingdom with the ancestors.
The Chairman of the Ofala Steering Committee, Chief (Dr) Okechukwu Mike Areh, Onya Ozoma of Onitsha, said the 2026 theme builds on last year’s Njiko na Ntachi – Unity and Resilience. “For over 500 years, Ndi Onicha have shown igba mbo – resilience. Through every challenge we endured, adapted, and rose again. In 2026, we move forward to iga n’iru – deliberate progress. This is our charge: strive in your craft, advance your community. Let personal effort build our Kingdom,” Chief Areh said.
The festival will feature Ogbalido on Saturday, October 10, which is a feast of atonement for brave men, particularly Ndichie and big game hunters. It signals the final countdown to Ofala and is the formal announcement of public festivities. This will be followed by Inyepu Ukwu N’nlo Eze Onicha on Sunday, October 11, which marks Obi’s ceremonial emergence from spiritual seclusion after successfully negotiating the fortunes of the kingdom. This sacred rite marks the end of the Umato period and the Obi’s return to his people.
For three days (October 12 to 15), there will be medical health and wellbeing community outreach offering medical screenings, health education, and wellbeing services. Other activities for the festival include Oreze art exhibition (October 13 to 18), youth carnival on October 14, Iru Ofala when Obi makes his first public appearance after seclusion, blesses his people, receives homage, and declares the theme: igba mbo, iga n’iru, Azu Ofala on Saturday, October 17, which is the second day of the grand public celebration, featuring continued homage, cultural performances, masquerades, and community engagement at Ime Obi, and thanksgiving service at the Bishop Crowther Memorial Anglican Church, Egerton road, Onitsha on Sunday.
The 2026 festival is proudly supported by Globacom and Orijin as official sponsors, and Arise News, THISDAY, Afia TV, Afia Radio, and Udala FM as official media partners.
Chief Areh said that the logo reflects this journey: the swords of authority and continuity, the beads of identity and honour, and the royal proclamation at its centre.
While thanking sponsors and media partners, Areh said: “It is a heritage that is not static, but in motion – rooted in royalty, built on resilience, moving toward progress.”
“We thank our sponsors Globacom and Orijin, and our media partners Arise News, Afia TV, Afia Radio and Udala FM for joining us to amplify the story of Onitsha to Nigeria and the world.”
