The Obi’s Entry during the Ofala Festival

On the day of the festival, the Obi makes three appearances after being in seclusion for four days.

After the early morning rituals, the trumpeters announce his entry before he shows up, fully dressed in his royal regalia, highlighted with the royal crown (okpu ododo), acknowledging the crowd that would have gathered by waving at all the directions to the people and then returns inside.

During the second outing, the trumpets are blown again and the Obi comes out and seats on his throne. He is  followed by the the elders (ndi-Ichie) also well-dressed in their traditional attires.

They pay homage to the Obi by kneeling down to bow before him and sing his praises, after which he now performs the function of Iwa-ji (celebration of the first yam) to mark the official declaration of harvest season.

The Obi then returns again into the inner chambers before he finally comes out the third time.

During his third entry, he steps into the arena and dances to the tune of the drummers. He dances in turns with his first wife, his first son and first daughter and returns to his throne giving way to a parade of dances by different groups.