Ofala festival
April 13, 2008 Travel & Festivals 1 CommentCELEBRATION OF OFALA FESTIVAL IN AGULERI
Ofala festival is an annual event in Aguueri in Anambra east council in Anambra State. Ofala is celebrated also in other parts of IGBO LAND.
Ofala festival is a celebration of Traditional rulers with certificate {IGWE}.
This great occasion is a unifying factor, during which people from all nooks and cranny gather to behold the majestic splendor of IGWE AND HIS PALACE.
Usually, this event takes place in IGWE’S PALACE. On the eve of the OFALA, people would gather to pass night in the palace
{IT IS CALLED ULA OFALA}, which heralds the celebration proper.
On the event day, early in the morning, people will start thronging to the palace, to their preferred seats and position that will enable them to have full glare of the activities that will ensue.
The remarkable among the activities are the process-ion of IGWE, with wife, which is call LOLO and the PRICE AND PRINCESSES, HIS COUNCIL OF CHIEFS AND CABINETS.
Progressively, they will majestically, match round the palace, with local drummers, artistically drumming to KINGLLY lyrics to which, they will dance and people will hail them.
After the first, second and third processions, then comes a masquerade called IJELE, it is about 20ft tall, colourfully embedded with crafted creatures, and beautiful to behold. Unlike the other masquerade called NWA-NGWU, WITH TWO FACES, very ugly one, women and children do hide their faces, whenever it comes around.
Indeed, Ofala festival, is a culture of IGBO-TRIBE and it is a respected institution among the people, it unites people and gives them happiness.