The Igbo heritage was in full radiance as the first Ofala festival of the traditional head of Umuezeawala Village, Ihiala, Ogbuehi Desmond Obiakor, was held in his Umuezeawala royal residence in Ihiala Local Government Area.
Ogbuehi Obiakor is the fourteenth traditional head of Umuezeawala Village and has the customary powers to adjudicate on some jurisdictional issues.
Ofala in Igbo cultural calendar replicates both traditional and customary significance of the Igbo people.
Usually, Ofala is the customary prerogative of traditional rulers, who are the chief custodians of artifacts and traditions of their towns.
In Ihiala, where there are seven villages, with each town represented by a traditional head, who acts as the second class leader — just behind the traditional ruler — of their villages, the Ofala feast is an annual choice of festivities.
From the pouring of the ‘nzu’ — a unique traditional chalk of indispensable significance, to the customary ‘Ufie’ dance — a men-only traditional serenade emanating from a different wooden gong, one could aptly picture a redefined Igbo cultural atmosphere that seems to have been eroded by technology and westernization.
In his speech at the occasion, the Traditional Ruler and Clan Head of Ihiala, Oluoha Thomas Obidiegwu, commended Umuezeawala Village for standing as a positive referral of the town, noting that with the right assemblage of resources, the village will develop more than notable towns in Anambra State.
The celebrant, Ogbuehi Obiakor, in his speech, noted that his first mission as the leader of the village was to ensure indivisible unity and progress of his people and as well to ensure that youths of the village, especially the graduates, are properly empowered to help in the development of the village and Ihiala town at large.
On his part, the President General of Ihiala, Chief Okey Chukwu explained that the traditional functions of the Ogbuehi do not withdraw the Igwe’s supreme role oversight on the town, even though the Ogbuehi is customarily allowed to have his own cabinet chiefs, adding that the Ogbuehi is serving a delegated function given that the Igwe cannot be everywhere at the same time.
Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C-Don Adinuba, who is from Umuezeawala Village, as well other notable personalities and friends of the celebrant, came to pay homage to the Ogbehi of Umuezeawala.
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