All is now set for the 2023 grand Ofala festival of His Royal Highness, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, MON, the traditional ruler of Omor kingdom in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to the line-up of events to celebrate the festival as released by the Supreme Elders Council and the Royal Cabinet of the community, the Ofala festival will commence tomorrow Friday 15th December, 2023 which will also be the D-day at Igulube Royal Palace, Omor, Time is 10 am.
The next day, Saturday December 16, 2023 the festival will continue at the same venue with the paying of homages and “Ikpọ Igwe Iru” to be performed by “Ndi Ichie-Akakwu” and “Ndi Nze” Omor. Time is still at 10am. On Sunday, December 17, 2023, the ceremony will be summed up with a thanksgiving mass at Christ the King Parish, Omor.
The festival will showcase the rich and splendid cultural heritage of Ndi Omor who are known for their hospitality, agriculture, communal spirit and deep rooted ties to the norms and values of their ancestors.
The Ofala festival will display the grandeur of the Omor royalty and the loyalty of the people of Omor to their Monarch, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, Eze Ana-Ukwu and Eze Igulube of Omor.
Omor community is located virtually at the centre of Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. It is bordered by Umumbo, Anaku, Umuerum, Igbakwu and Ifite-Ogwari communities in the same local government area; Enugwu-Otu Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area and Ogbosu town in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. Omor boasts of a population of one hundred and fifty-five thousand, eight hundred and forty-two people.
Historically, Omor is said to be the first of the eight sons of Ayamelum that today make up the eight communities in Ayamelum clan. Thus, it houses the “Nne Mulu Nne” deity in Orenja quarters of Omor which signifies the permanent resting place of the mother of the eight sons of the clan. Omor is made up of Orenja, Akanato, Aturia and Amikwe quarters. The four quarters in turn are made up of a total of twenty villages.
Significantly, Omor community in Ayamelum Local government area of Anambra State and Awka, the capital city of the state bear compartmental and dialectical similarities. In fact, the coincidences between the two communities of the state lead to a belief that a majority of the villages in Awka actually migrated from Omor to their present place of abode.
Omor has produced renowned personalities and professionals in virtually all disciplines, fields of business and all other walks of life. The people of Omor are known to be very hardworking and agrarian in nature producing major staple foods such as rice, maize, okra, cassava, yam, cocoyam, melon, cowpea, and guinea pea. They are undoubtedly the largest producers of rice and okra in the entire South Eastern Nigeria attracting multi-billion naira investments in the sector.
The agricultural feat of the community and her neighbors informed the establishment of the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project in Omor which is visibly the largest federal government presence in agriculture in the entire south eastern Nigeria. Following the establishment of the project in the community, the farmers in the local government area have developed themselves tremendously in agricultural technology resulting in the production of very high quality parboiled, processed and destoned rice that can compete favourably anywhere in the world market.
Omor has a very rich cultural background and history. Some of its popular and unique masquerades include Isato, Otimgbodomgbo, Ojiegbe, Oti Okpokpo, Ada, Wonder and many others. Some of these masquerades have won national and international laurels. The popular traditional festivals in Omor include Ajana-
Ukwu, Igbaji, Eriochana, Amaji, Mmeche Mmili, Akwali and many more.
Therefore, as His Royal Highness, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume, MON, Eze Ana-Ukwu and Eze Igulube of Omor celebrates his Ofala festival tomorrow Friday December, 15, and on Saturday, December 16, 2023, you are invited to come, witness and experience these rich culture and rare hospitality of Ndi Omor.
Come and be part of this epoch making event.
Written by CHIEF GODWIN MGBECHI
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