Golibe Festival

Golibe Festival which simply means 'To Rejoice’ is a festival in the City of Onitsha,[1] that aims to demonstrate to the world the city's rich cultural history. It is an art, music, culture, family and community event From Christmas Eve to New Year, Golibe brings together residents of Anambra and the whole of southeastern countries and visiting indigenous people from the Diaspora.[2]

History

The Festival was one of the outcomes of His Majesty, Nnaemeki Achebe, CFR, mni, Agbogidi and Onitsha's "Onitsha in the 21st Century" project in 2016 to attract Onitsha, Onitsha indigenous, Eastern Nigerian and other Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to take advantage of the rich culture of Onitscha and its position as a center for commerce and the diaspora.[3]

The first edition of the Golibe festival began on Monday 25 December 2018 with an opening ceremony at the Ime Obi Ezechima Palace, Onitsha, in Kings Courtyard. The event gave a forum for friends and relatives to gather together in arts, music and other channels to celebrate their ancestry, identity, and roots. It provides a secure venue for the expression of the South-Eastern cultural heritage through 'culture, cooking and colors.' The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Acehebe, called the Festival a "cultural initiative aimed at revitalizing and repositioning Onitsha's culture and economy."[4]

The festival also aimed at creating an opportunity to grow the local economy in the South East, since individuals, groups, small market companies and corporations could use it for the purpose of growing their businesses and brands and also provide local people with the opportunity to take part in a way that would benefit them economically.

Festivity

The festival features video documentaries, history, culture and traditions, cultural dances, the display of the arts and crafts, master seminars on local cuisine and drinks and many more.

Activities

The festival is packed with the events that follow;

  1. 24th December, Opening Ceremony
  2. Presentation of Drama on 25th December
  3. Night of Comedy, December 25th
  4. Finals for Food Competition, 26th December
  5. 26th December, Football Finals
  6. Presentation of drama on 26th December
  7. 26th December, Highlife/Senior Night
  8. 27th December, Pageantry (Face of Golibe)
  9. 28th December, Carnival Parade
  10. 29th December, Carnival Masquerade
  11. 29th December, DJ Party/Hip Hop Night
  12. 30th December, Musical Concert
  13. 31st December, DJ Party/Crossover Night and Fireworks[5]

References
  1. How Onitsha Masquerade Looks Like - Golibe Festival 2018, retrieved 2021-08-12
  2. "Culture: Obi of Onitsha inaugurates 'Golibe festival'". Vanguard News. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  3. "Preparations begin for Onitsha inaugural Golibe Festival 2018". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  4. "Obi of Onitsha inaugurates 2nd edition of Golibe festival". Vanguard News. 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  5. InlandTown (2020-08-28). "Anambra @ 29: Festivals, Carnivals, Events Showcasing Cultural Heritage". Welcome To InlandTown Online | Get hot information on Onitsha. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
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