Nchaka festival

NchakaEgwu Ogba is an annual cultural festival celebrated within November or December to mark harvest season to thank God (Chukwuabiama) and other divinities for giving them fertile soil and good harvest.[1]

It is symbolized with Yam rituals. The festival begins with a royal proclamation made by the Oba (king) at the traditional market square known as Ahiankwo. The proclamation is marked with a royal feat when the Eze Ogba entertains clan heads traditional title holders and other elites.[2] The festival last for five days. Yam is the main food throughout the festival period. The festíval features sanitation and purification exercises involving painting and decoration of houses, clearing of shrines, bush paths, leading to farms, streams, sacred grounds, and market square. The festival features processions, courtesy visits and wrestling competitions. The climax of events is the display by Nchaka masquerade and Okorosha dance.[3] There are two categories of Nchaka masquerade, namely Nchaka-ki Iyenwa (the female) and Nchaka ki-ikenwa (the male).

The festival offers an opportunity for all communities in the kingdom to come together also to interact with their neighbors. Ogbas particularly those in Diaspora seize the opportunity to return home, some with their foreign friend.[4]

On the occasion of 2010 Nchaka festival, the reigning Monarch, The King. Chukwumela Nnam Obi II (0ON,JP) observed that:

"The objectives of any cultural policy for the country (Nigeria) should aim at ensuring the continuity of traditional skills. Sports, and cultural festivals and their progressive adaption to serve modern needs and establish a disciplined, moral and enterprising society"[5]