Obi of Onitsha begins solitude rites ahead of Ofala Festival

Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, has commenced the annual rites of Inyedo Ukwu na Nlo Eze.

The solitude rite, which started on Friday, will end on October 5, the eve of Ofala Eze Onicha, the Ofala Festival.

This is when the monarch goes into a trance in total seclusion “to commune with the ancestors in supplication to God for the forgiveness of communal wrongdoings” over the past year.

During the solitude, it is believed that the monarch will pray for a peaceful and bounteous year ahead for his community.

Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu, the Obi’s chief of staff, who spoke of the rites on Friday, said the Onitsha monarch will also pray “for the end of the turmoil, violence, and hardship that has befallen” Nigeria in general and Igbo land.

“In a fuller context, his majesty will also be praying fervently for God’s mercy for the end of the turmoil, violence, and hardship that has befallen our dear country in general, and Anigbo in particular,” he said.

“He will be praying for the return of peace, mutual love and respect, justice, fairness, and equity as the fundamental prerequisites for stemming the anger, frustration, and bitterness that have enveloped the country.”

The monarch said the Ofala Festival will be held on October 6 to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak.

“[It] will be marked very modestly and devoid of the usual fanfare, colour, pomp, and pageantry that have become the global hallmark of the ancient festival. Also, there will be no Azu Ofala celebration,” the chief of staff added.

“The Owuwa-Ji (New Yam) Festival, which commenced on Friday, 24 September 2021 and will end on Thursday, 21 October with Ikelebe-Ji (the new yam celebration by the monarch) will similarly be observed very modestly

“It is the hope of his majesty and the people of Onitsha that the challenges of this year will pass, and circumstances will enable these festivals to return to normal next year, which will be his 20th anniversary on the throne.”