It is customary that the king must dance during his Ofala to the cheers and the admiration of his guests and subjects.
So, Agbogidi the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe stepped out in his royalty to the enchanting percussion of Egwu-Ota, war dance, to show his appreciation to the gods and make a formal public appearance.
Of course joy, he must exude as custom demands because the gods averted the calamity that would have befell the throne. A precursor to his spiritual isolation, Inye Ukwu Na Nlo which every king in Onitsha must perform annually.
A mournful hibernation period it is said to be originally, owing to what was said, would have been a tragedy of the royalty then.
Today, sitting on the throne of his forebearers to represent his progenitors who way before him sat on the same throne, he annually performs the same tradition as he has already done.
A custom that started when dioscorea species were first discovered by the Onitsha people.
History has it that on the discovery of the fibrous species, the less populated village was ordered to first have a taste of the unknown plant. Thereafter their survival, the others followed successively till it got to the turn of the king and his kinsmen to also have a taste and the tradition has remained till date.
A deliberate mechanism by the people of old to protect the royals you dare say.
That attests to why different villages in Onitsha take turns to have their taste of the new yam, today called Iwaji festival.
Continuing, tragedy they say almost struck the royal family when the heir adventurously joined his friends in their feast of new Yam before the king could certify the crop to be safe for consumption, the hopelessness hence made the king to go into isolation in wait of whatever fate would bring.
At the turn of event, the heir lived, a prove of Yam’s none poisonous nature and in response, the king rolled out drums in wild jubilation – Ofala.
So has the tradition remained ever since.
Igwe’s Ofala, annually, epitomize celebration of survival, success, new spirit and a new dawn.
According to custom, it is the beginning of a new year for the Onitsha people. Therefore, annually, Ofala festival must be held in celebration of an age long tradition.
Remarkably, Igwe Achebe left no stone unturned in making this year’s Ofala memorable, which incidentally is the 22nd anniversary of his ascension to the throne of Onitsha.
Themed; resilience, persistence and courage. Obi of Onitsha has used his 22nd Ofala to arm the people with the message of hope in order to spur them into proactive endeavors especially at this time of wanton hopelessness that has permeated the fabrics of our nation.
Present were dignitaries from all works of life; kings, queens, princes and princesses, nobles, captains of industries, professionals, clergies, politicians, foreigners and Indigenes – the Ime-Obi played host to them all.
The festival was grand and grandiose in all ramification. It was a total celebration of culture, norms and tradition as Onitsha people are known.
Apart from the war dances of the high chiefs in their cadres, the height of the 2024 Ofala festival started with the regal entry of Agbogidi into the main arena, amidst chants, praise singing and the booming percussion of Egwu-Ota while Making his appearnace.
Traditionally, he must move round the arena three times and each, symbolically was to declare the blessings of the gods upon the people. Each appearance however end with a sway of royal dance of Egwu-Ota.
At the final appearance, he concludes the ritual of blessing and appeasement of the gods for the people as they step into a new year with high hopes and vigour to conquer their destinies.
Long live the king,
Long live Agbogidi,
Long live Obi of Onitsha,
Long live Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe,
Long live Onitsha Ado N’idu
