Onitsha Set for Annual Ofala Festival on October 16

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The Palace of the Obi of Onitsha has announced that the prestigious annual Ofala Onitsha Festival will hold on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Chairman of the Ofala Steering Committee, Okechukwu Mike Areh, said the theme reflects the collective spirit, determination and aspirations of the Onitsha people. According to him, the theme captures the resolve of Ndi Onicha to preserve their heritage while striving for greater progress and development.

“This theme, ‘From Resilience to Progress,’ calls on every Onye Onicha to move forward and advance our heritage and future together,” Areh said.

And the festival will feature a wide range of activities, including an international art exhibition, the Ofala Youth Carnival, and community-focused medical, health and wellbeing outreach programmes.

The annual festival is expected to attract traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts, dignitaries and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond, further reinforcing Onitsha’s reputation as a centre of rich cultural heritage and tradition.

The Ofala festival, deeply rooted in spirituality and tradition, remains the high point of the Onitsha ceremonial calendar.

According to Areh, Ofala is primarily a celebration by the monarch and his subjects of the Obi’s annual emergence from seclusion, during which the monarch is believed to have successfully negotiated the fortunes of the kingdom.

He added that the festival also commemorates the historic discovery that yam is a safe and valuable source of food, symbolising joy, renewal and thanksgiving among the people.

While retaining its significance as an annual traditional and ritual obligation, Areh noted that the festival has evolved into a major cultural event.

So, the 2026 Ofala festival promises to be a grand celebration of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Onitsha people. But it's not just about tradition and history – it's also about the future.

The festival serves as a rite of renewal for the Obi and reinforces the bond between the throne and the people.

According to Areh, the theme of the festival reflects the collective spirit and aspirations of the Onitsha people.

He explained that the Ofala festival has become a major cultural event featuring international art exhibitions, the Ofala Youth Carnival, and medical, health and wellbeing outreach programmes.

The festival is an opportunity for the Onitsha people to showcase their rich cultural heritage and traditions.

And the festival has become a major tourist event attracting visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.

This has helped to reinforce Onitsha’s reputation as a centre of rich cultural heritage and tradition.

So, the 2026 Ofala festival promises to be a grand celebration that will bring together the Onitsha people and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.