..As He Promotes Igbo Cultural Historical Heritage,Culture and Unity.

The Ofala festival is the most important surviving traditional ceremony of the Igbo people. It is also an occasion where the indigenes of the community join together for dancing, singing, meeting old friends and making new relationships.
Ofala is a period for monarchs to showcase their cultures in Igbo land.

OFALA is celebrated in most kingdoms in Anambra State as a memorial ceremony for the remembrance of the date the traditional ruler of the area was installed.

Indigenes of the various communities always look forward to their Ofala which takes place annually, usually towards the end of the year. There are two types of Ofala in the history of every monarch in Anambra. One is the annual event that attracts friends and well wishers of the people of the community during which the traditional ruler takes stock of his activities within the year and the other is the last Ofala which takes place after the death of the monarch.

It is also a way of developing the community It is a season of thanksgiving to the ancestors, for sparing the lives of the people and allowing a successful planting season. In many communities, it is a weeklong event and some communities use if for mass. A return during which community development projects were launched.

Almost all recognized traditional rulers in Igbo land celebrate Ofala in one way or the other. While it is called Ofala in many communities, others have peculiar names for it. it is known by other names in various communities.The Ofala Festival takes place in Igbo land, Nigeria, every year. The festival, which was established over 100 years ago.

Ofala Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Onitsha. Onitsha indigenes are a people, who cherish their heritage and value their culture very much in spite of their early contact with education. This is why they pay attention to the traditional ceremonies that abound.

However, the Ofala festival seems to be the most significant and prestigious of all the ceremonies performed in Onitsha. The festival varies from community to community in Igbo land. In other places, it may be the coronation of a chief, to mark an anniversary, or the coronation of an lgwe or Eze.

Ofala is celebrated in most kingdoms in Anambra State as a memorial ceremony for the remembrance of the date the traditional ruler of the area was installed Indigenes of the various communities always look forward to their Ofala which takes place annually, usually towards the end of the year.

There are two types of Ofala in the history of every monarch in Anambra. One is the annual event that attracts friends and well wishers of the people of the community during which the traditional ruler takes stock of his activities within the year and the other is the last Ofala which takes place after the death of the monarch.

Iri-ji (New yam Festival) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people that is held at the end of the rainy season in early August.The Iri ji festival (literally “new-yam eating”

The New Yam Festival is an annual occasion of offering and celebrating immense thanks to the gods (or God) for making the farm yields possible as well.It symbolizes the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle.

Ofala/ Iriji New yam festival was a special day for Igbo speaking community, all the illustrious Igbo sons of soil and daughters accross the world, families, friends and wellwishers, all gathered together to celebrate the Ofala/ New yam Festival, where rich cultural heritage and traditions were deplayed under the leadership of His highness Eze Amb. Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eziokwu Bu Ndu I, Eze Ndigbo of Aigbaka Ejigbo alongside his lovely wife Ugoeze Chibuzor Sylvia Njoku who also welcome all the Ugoeze to the Festival on Saturday, 30th September, 2023 at Ronik Comphensive College, Ejigbo Lagos, under the distinguished Chairman of the occasion, Prince Hilary Ugochukwu Nwanchukwu Amam popularly as (Ugo sly) mayor of Ikeja land.

Important dignitaries present at the event were;

Prince Barr.Oke- Joe Onukalusi, House of Representatives Oshodi/ Isolo Federal Constituency Il,

Hon, Ladi Ajomale, Member Lagos State House of Assembly Oshodi/Isolo Constituency Il,

Hon. Mosurudeen Oloyede Bello Chairman Ejigbo LCDA,

HRM Oba Moroof Adisa Adekunle Ojoola, Ojon of Ejigbo & Ijan kingdom, Imakiyo II, Chief Dr. Sunday

Chief Sunday Ossai, President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State,

Chief Dr. Sunday Udeh (Onwa Ndigbo) President General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State,

Distiinquished guest of honour Alh, Fola Tinubu,

Hon. Sir, Dr. Jude Emeka Idimogu, Immediate Past Mem. Lagos State House of Assembly Oshodi/ Isolo Constituency II,

HRH Eze Dr. C.C Nwokedi, Eze okpoko 1,Okpoko1 of Obodoukwu Eze Ndigbo ijegun &Ijeododo land, Chairman Council of Ndi Eze igbo Speaking Community Lagos State,

Prince Hillary Ugochukwu Nwanchukwu Amam (Ugo Sly), Chairman of the Occasion,

Hon. Engr. Chuks Odimegwu, Secretary General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos & Chairman Planning Committee 2023,

Other important distinguished guests include;

Dr. Oliver Ubaferem Njoku JP MSI. The Abazuma 11 of Abasu, Oputaobie Ikeduru land,

HRM Obikanyi L.O Ezenwa, Igwe Nkataukwu Ohazurume, Onunakwuruoha 11 of Umuomaku Accient Kingdom, Orumba South LGA, Anambra.

HRM.Eze Dr. Douglas Okwar, Okwarachukwu IV, Igwe & Paramount Ruler of Umuna Ancient Kingdom, Obi of Ebe- Asaa, Head ISU Clan Orlu Imo State,

High Chief Richard Imah (Omekaozuoha) Onowu Ndigbo Aigbaka, Ejigbo,

Chief Tony Okoli, (Ogbuefi Akuruolo) Chairman Council Of Chiefs, Eziokwu Bu Ndu Palace,

Aare Prince Osibote, The Present General of Odua People’s Congress (OPC).

The gathering wont be completed without mentioning the Mothers of the Day,

Chief Mrs Chinyere Eze, President, Association of Enugu State Development Unions (Women’s wing)

Chief Hon. Ngozi Chinwuko Adaife Ndigbo Lagos State Ex-Officio APC Lagos.

Chief Amb.Dr.Mrs Kate Ugoka, (Nne ka Nne) State Woman leader, Igbo speaking Community in Lagos,

Princess Dr. Mrs Ada Okeke Amam, (Adakaibeya) Founder, Adorable Foundation International,

Chief Dr. Mrs Jane Francis Chioma Okoro, ( Aguoyoyo) State Woman Leader Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos.

The Chairman Organising Committee, the Secretary General, Igbo speaking Community in Lagos, Hon. Engr. Chucks Odimegwu in his welcome Address welcomed all the distinguished guests.

” It is a heartful of joy that I welcome you to the First Year Anniversary & Ofala celebration of this noble Community (AIGBAKA) under the watchful eyes of His Highness Eze Amb. Nicholas Emenike Njoku, A United Ambassador for Peace. Eziokwu Bu Ndu Palace came to existence after the death of Eze MC Okoro of blessed memory also Aigbaka Community.

Further speaking “Eziokwu Bu Ndu Palace is the home and citadel of his Royal Highness Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku, the Eze Ndigbo, Aigbaka community in Ejigbo Lagos State. The Palace is a rallying point for all sons and daughters of Ndigbo to discuss issues of intestacy towards mutual benefit of life and the community”.

“In keeping with the Igbo tradition, the Eze and the community celebrate her Ofala and the New yam (Iri-ji) annually to thank God for a good harvest and sustenance of the community for the year.

“The community also uses the opto showcase her rich Igbo tradition and Customs which include Iwaji, dances, igbo recitations, traditional wrestling, masquerades etc. In addition, Eziokwu Bu Ndu Palace has instituted a school and registered the “ULO Mmuta Omenala Na Asusu Igbo” recently to reinvigorate the speaking and learning of Igbo language, culture and tradition.

“In making today’s festival a memorable one, Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku has set aside the sum of N500,000, (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) prize for the winner of the States town Union Women dancing competition amongst the states that makes up the Igbo Speaking region”.

Speaking in an interview with the newsmen at the occasion.

Hon. Sir, Dr. Jude Emeka Idimogu, Immediate Past Mem. Lagos State House of Assembly Oshodi/ Isolo Constituency II,described Ofala/Iriji “as an annual festival, to we Igbos is our culture and tradition a carry over, the land has given us yam. So when we harvest, before we eat it in Igbo culture, we must thank God, gods of the land and thank the people that are living, so that one harvest and eat another yam next year.

“It is a cultural festival which we must respect, this festival had been existing since the time of our forefathers and we must follow the tradition and culture. As we can see, there is merriment and a lot of enjoyment and l pray that God will continue to make every Igbo men and women prosper”.

“My advice to every Igbos in Lagos is that let us live in peace and harmony. Let there be understanding for those ruling and people being ruled, leadership will come and go another people will rule one day.”

Hon. Engr. Chuks Odimegwu, Secretary General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos & Chairman Planning Committee 2023, also in an interview with the journalists, said, “Ofala/ iriji is a celebration of culture and tradition is a cultural festival every Igbo communities celebrate at beginning and at the end of the year. What is happening here today is that we are bringing the feast of South West to Lagos for our sons and daughters who were unable to travel and witness Ofala/ Iriji festival in their home towns or villages will be participating in the festival now in Lagos”.

“This Ofala/ Iriji is well organised under the leadership of Amb. Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku and this is the very first time ever Ofala/ iriji takes place since he ascended the throne. Just under a year, when the former king, Eze M.C Okoro passed away, we have been able to achieve a lot, few months ago, a school has been established, today, Ofala/ Iriji festival is being celebrated.

“The unique feature is the celebration the new yam yearly.

 

Prince Hillary Ugochukwu Nwanchukwu Amam (Ugo Sly), Chairman of the Occasion, while speaking to the journalists, described Ofala/ iriji as the celebration of mankind which means all the Ndigbo have to regard and hold their culture and traditions in high esteem.

HRH Eze Dr. C.C Nwokedi, Eze okpoko 1,Okpoko1 of Obodoukwu Eze Ndigbo ijegun & Ijeododo land, Former Chairman Ladipo Market, Chairman Council of Ndi Eze igbo Speaking Community Lagos State also described Ofala/ Iriji” as one power festival in Igbo culture, while some people travel to Germany, England, Italy to celebrate New yam Fastival, new yam festival is being celebrated in different towns and villages, every August is August meeting and new yam is celebrated from August 8th-9th. Igbos can celebrate their culture anywhere they are in the world.

“As you can see, we are all here to celebrate Ofala/ Iriji with Amb.Eze Nicholas Njoku is one of our members, the PRO of Council of Eze Ndigbo in Lagos.

Stressing further, ” Amb. Eze Nicholas Emenike Njoku is a man of his words, he is sincere, that is why we love him and am here to celebrate with him.

“He became the Eze is by the grace of God and because the people in his community love him they came out emass to rejoice with him. if he Is not a good man , I won’t be here today.

Apostle Nnamdi Chukwunede Onodu Ugo, Ndigbo Na Alimosho chairman ohanaeze Ndigbo Egbe idimu LCDA in an interview he advised, “Let all the Ndigbo in Lagos should remain calm and learn how accomodate one another no matter the situation.

“God has blessed Igbos anywhere the Igbos  are, the atmosphere and the environment must change for good because we love progress.

“So let us  learn how to control and tolerate ourselves. Igbos living in Ejigbo LCDA, Egbe Idimu LCDA, let us love one another.

“Comparing Ofala/ iriji Festival, Ofala/Iriji is a celebration of culture and tradition there is nothing wrong in celebrating the festival. It becames bad when attached black charms to it.”

Other activities include, breaking of kolanut, dancing competition by States town Union, cutting of the yam, royal dance, masquerades dance, playing drums,  and flutes blowing etc.