Inye Ukwu Na Nlo Eze Onicha (Spiritual Retreat)
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 · Market Day: Eke
Heritage to Future: Honoring the spiritual foundation of kingship while advancing visionary, service-driven leadership for Ndi Onicha.
This is the annual seclusion of the monarch, during which period he negotiates the fortunes of the kingdom. Considered to be the most sacred in Onitsha ceremonial cycle, the monarch remains incommunicado during the following native week: Oye, Afor, Nkwo, and Eke. This is to enable him to concentrate all his energies on securing from the spiritual powers the best for himself and his subjects.
Ofala Medical, Health and Wellbeing Community Outreach
Date: Monday, October 12 – Thursday, October 15, 2026
Heritage to Future: Extending the king’s traditional role as guardian of his people to advancing access to health, wellness, and community care.
Increasingly there are incidences of ill-health, disease burden, and consequent death of Onitsha indigenes. This is a result of lack of awareness of common disease types, their prevention, management, and surveillance. Consequently, a medical, health, and wellbeing community outreach has been instituted as a part of the annual Ofala. Instituted in 2024, the outreach continues as a permanent part of the annual Ofala.
Free services offered include cancer screening, diabetes and hypertension self-management. Others are mental health first aid, sickle cell awareness, and stroke risk.
Ogbalido
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 · Market Day: Nkwo
Heritage to Future: From ancient royal decrees and military reviews to advancing transparent communication and civic participation in 2026.
A feast of atonement by brave men – Ndichie (redcap chiefs) and big game hunters, it is also a period for these warlords to rejuvenate themselves. Furthermore, Ogbalido provides each of the three senior redcap chiefs with an opportunity to review the redcap chiefs under their command.
Oreze IX Art Exhibition
Date: Tuesday, October 13 – Sunday, October 18, 2026
Heritage to Future: Leveraging Igbo artistic heritage to advance cultural tourism, creative enterprise, and global visibility for Onitsha.
The Beginnings
A group exhibition, titled Orakwue (The Voice of the People), held in honour of His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha in recognition of his support for Nigerian and African artists in general, sowed the seeds that has now germinated into Oreze. The exhibition of paintings, sculptures, and ceramics which opened on the 6th of April 2013 at the Alexis Galleries in Victoria Island, Lagos, featured 17 artists. In September of the same year His Majesty invited the artists to replicate the show on a large scale at the Ofala. So Orakwue became Oreze.
The Concept
Oreze, Ora Eze in full, refers to the collective will of the people under the leadership of the king. The monarch therefore becomes the embodiment of that resolve and the binding force of the people. Oreze is also the name of the second Onitsha sovereign, who ruled in the 16th–17th century and was in fact the first monarch following the founding of the Onitsha city state on the eastern bank of the River Niger.
Drawing from this, His Majesty is in essence a rallying point for creative minds like fine artists as they seek to bring about transformation of the people through the works they produce. He is thus a patron of these artists. Furthermore, as a major supporter of the visual arts, His Majesty has developed a relationship with quite a number of these artists. The result is the King’s Guild of Artists who present their works in the annual exhibition during the period of the Ofala.
The Chimedie Museum
The Oreze Art Exhibition has been conceptualised and promoted under the auspices of Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation. The Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation has been established by His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha. The foundation seeks to help create a future in which African art achieves greater visibility, appreciation, relevance, and sustainability. The Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation is a centre of excellence for the development and promotion of African art as a vehicle for community transformation. In this regard, it has decided to establish the Chimedie Museum in Onitsha. Construction of the museum building is under way.
The Exhibition
Oreze 1 opened on Monday, October 7, 2013, which was the eve of that year’s Ofala. 70 artists from Nigeria and the west coast of Africa participated in the maiden edition. Since this first edition, Oreze has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. Oreze has had some of the largest collections of works in a group show in Africa and has featured artists from the United States of America, Cuba, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, South Africa, and the west coast of Africa. The works of several old African masters, well-established ones including the leading emerging masters on the continent, have been exhibited at Oreze. In the drive to serve as an avenue for promoting up-and-coming artists, well over 100 artists resident in the southeast region have made their exhibition debuts at Oreze. Master artists Bruce Onobrakpeya and Demas Nwoko, including art academics such as Ola Oloide, Chike Aniako, Jerry Buhari, and Peju Layiwola, have been special guests at the opening of various editions of Oreze.
Ofala Youth Carnival
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Heritage to Future: Channeling youthful expression drawing from the traditional Igbo ilo (youth procession) to advance cultural pride, entrepreneurship, and the future of Igbo identity.
Background
The Ofala Youth Carnival has evolved to become the biggest cultural street funfair in the Southeast region of Nigeria. The carnival owes its origin to the parade Igba Ilo Ofala organised by the National Association of Onicha Ado Students as a herald to the Ofala.
It was usually held on the morning of Iru Ofala, the first day of the Ofala. In 2010, the Igba Ilo Ofala was re-structured from a mere awareness creation activity to become a full-fledged carnival and integrated into the Ofala as a major component of the festival. In order to ensure that the carnival aligns properly with other aspects of the Ofala, it became necessary to create a separate day for the carnival. Thus in 2016, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha gave recognition to the day preceding Iru Ofala to be designated as Ofala Carnival Day.
The Essence
The carnival, organised by the Onitsha Ado Youth Council, showcases the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha indigenes. It is a colourful moving train of various Onitsha cultural outfits and dances along the major streets of the metropolis. In this regard, it provides entertainment for both the youth participants and the spectators that cut across various age categories. In addition, it ensures sustainability of the customs and traditions of Onicha Ado N’Idu (Onitsha), by inculcating in the youths a sense of pride and love for the heritage of their hometown. Furthermore, the winning groups receive financial rewards.
Innovations continue to be introduced in the carnival with a view to improving the enjoyment and entertainment. Drawing from the connections which Onitsha has with the Edo and Igala people, participants in costumes from these ethnic groups featured in the 2018 edition. Another innovation was the appearance of the Ofala Models.
Iru Ofala
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 · Market Day: Oye
Heritage to Future: From a sacred rite of renewal for the Obi to advancing our collective resolve to move from resilience to progress.
This first day, Iru Ofala, is primarily for the monarch. Attended by the Ndichie, the monarch wearing his full regalia parades the arena of his palace on three different occasions, in full view of all present, and dances to the war drums. In between the rounds, his subjects, visitors, and stakeholders in the greater cosmopolitan city pay him their respects.
Azu Ofala
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Market Day: Afor
Heritage to Future: Turning heritage celebration into advancing economic opportunity, hospitality, and community unity.
Azu Ofala, the second day of the Ofala, is an elaborate display by the monarch’s subjects, usually made up of age grade societies in their very colourful uniforms. Each society dances past the throne room paying homage to the monarch. All these lead to entertainment that gives expression to cultural expression that affirms our identity and values.
Ofala Banquet
Heritage to Future: Honoring those who build the Ofala each year while advancing partnership between palace, sponsors, and people.
This Banquet is held in honour of His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, mni, CFR, Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha. Globacom, a major sponsor of the Ofala, organises the event, which also provides an opportunity for His Majesty to interact with various persons who have been involved in organising the Ofala.
Ofala Thanksgiving Service
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Heritage to Future: Blending faith and tradition to advance gratitude, unity, and spiritual renewal for Ndi Onicha.
A thanksgiving service usually rounds up the Ofala. The service is rotated amongst the churches in the Onitsha metropolis.