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.
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