The Ofala Festival is an annual ceremony practiced by Igbo people, particularly the indigenes of Onitsha, Umueri, Umuoji and other neighboring communities such as Aguleri, Nnewi and Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area.[1] It serves as a rites of renewal of the king or Igwe or Obi and it is similar to the Igue festival in Benin and the Ine, Osi or Ogbanigbe Festival in many mid-West Igbo communities of Nigeria. The term ofala, is derived from two Igbo words - ọfọ (English: authority) and ala (English: land).[2] The festival is celebrated within two days mostly in October by the Obi (English: king) and is a customary obligation that must be performed every couple of years without fail.[3]
- ^ Shehu Abubakar (15 January 2010). "Ofala festival: Commoner's last hope in Ukpo". Daily Trust. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ Abah Adah; Chinelo Chikelu; Paul Chiama (14 March 2014). "Nigeria's 10 Famous Festivals". Leadership Nigeria. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Ofala: A period for monarchs to showcase their cultures in Igbo land". Vanguard News. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.