By Tony Okafor, Awka
The 2026 Ofala Festival of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, will hold from October 7 to 25, with a programme that combines traditional rites with health, cultural, youth and community activities.
The Ofala Steering Committee, in a statement issued in Onitsha on Sunday, said the 25th edition of the festival would be held under the theme, “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru – Strive and Advance | From Resilience to Progress.”
The theme, according to the committee, builds on last year’s theme, “Njiko na Ntachi – Unity and Resilience,” and is intended to emphasise collective progress among the people of Onitsha.
Chairman of the Ofala Steering Committee, Chief Okechukwu Mike Areh, said the festival theme reflected the historical resilience of the Onitsha people and the need to translate that resilience into purposeful progress.
“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,” Areh said.
The festival will begin on Wednesday, October 7, with Inye Ukwu N’Nlo Eze Onicha, the annual seclusion of the Obi.
The monarch will remain in seclusion through the traditional week as part of the sacred rites preceding his public emergence.
This will be followed by Ogblalido on October 10, described by the committee as a feast of atonement for brave men, particularly Ndichie and big-game hunters, and the formal announcement of the public festivities.
On October 11, the Obi will perform Inyepu Ukwu N’Nlo Eze Onicha, marking his ceremonial emergence from seclusion and the conclusion of the Umato period.
A medical, health and wellbeing community outreach will take place from October 12 to 15, featuring medical screenings, health education and other wellbeing services.
Also scheduled for October 13 to 18 is the Oreze Art Exhibition, which will feature contemporary and traditional works.
The programme will continue with a Youth Carnival on October 14, featuring music, dance, fashion and other cultural and creative displays by young people.
The main ceremony, Iru Ofala, will take place on Friday, October 16. It is the high point of the festival, during which the Obi will make his first public appearance after his period of seclusion, receive homage from his subjects and declare the festival theme.
The second day of the public celebration, Azu Ofala, will hold on Saturday, October 17, featuring further homage, cultural performances, masquerades and other activities at Ime Obi.
The festival will end with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 25, at Bishop Crowther Memorial Anglican Church, Egerton Road, Onitsha.
The committee said Globacom and Orijin were the official sponsors of the 2026 Ofala Festival, while Arise News, THISDAY, Afia TV, Afia Radio and Udala FM were listed as official media partners.
Areh said the festival’s identity and symbolism were designed to reflect Onitsha’s royal heritage, continuity and movement towards progress.
He thanked the sponsors and media partners for supporting the festival and helping to promote Onitsha’s cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, media accreditation for the festival is scheduled to run from October 3 to 10.
The committee said media practitioners wishing to cover the festival must apply through the official Ofala accreditation portal and that only accredited journalists would be granted access to designated media areas.
