The 2026 Globacom-sponsored Ofala Festival began on a spectacular note on Wednesday in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the Youth Carnival organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC).
The carnival featured different cultural groups, including the Otu
Odu Onitsha, Egwu Odu, and Agbalanze,
dressed in full traditional regalia dancing through the streets of Inland Town,
Onitsha, in celebration of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe. The
carnival was also used to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha
indigenes.
A striking aspect of the ceremony was the way young people embodied the
grandeur of traditional institutions, appearing in carefully made costumes of
prominent traditional rulers, including the Obi of Onitsha, the Oba of Benin
and the Ooni of Ife.
After the street procession, the youths gathered at the old Ime Obi, St
Stephen Anglican Church Road, where they held fashion parades and different
competitions among the different groups.
Ofala celebrations will continue with the Iru Ofala on
Friday, October 16, and the Azu Ofala on Sunday, October
17. A Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe will
be held on Wednesday, October 21, at the Ime Obi, Onitsha. The activities will
be rounded off with an Ofala Thanksgiving service scheduled for Sunday, October
25 at St. Stephens Anglican Church.
Globacom disclosed in a statement that its continued association with
Ofala “reflects a philosophy that places culture alongside connectivity as
instruments of national development.
“Ofala is far more than an annual cultural celebration. It is a living
expression of identity, continuity and collective aspiration. Our sustained
partnership with this magnificent institution reflects our belief that
preserving heritage and advancing society are not competing imperatives; they
are mutually reinforcing pillars of a progressive nation. This is the spirit of
Globacom’s clarion call, ‘Never Settle for Less’, which is to honour what is
worthy, while continually striving for something greater” the company added.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!