Ofalla Festival of Hymns

Prince Arthur Eze (On White) The Multi Billionaire

Ukpo Community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State has carved a niche for itself in Nigeria and the world at large, courtesy of one of their illustrious sons, Prince Arthur Eze. Like many communities in Igbo land, Ofala festival is a big festival in Ukpo community. Prince Arthur Eze’s influence as an oil guru and a money bag and been that he is the son of the royal family and the brother of the Igwe, Dr. R.C. Eze Okofia VI makes the festival so unique that it attracts people from all works of life within and outside Nigeria to Ukpo land during their Ofala festival.

The Ofala festival in Ukpo which is usually held in the week that precedes Christmas, ends with a thanksgiving service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church Ukpo. In addition to some dignitaries that come from within and outside Nigeria to celebrate the Ofala with Prince Arthur Eze, the Ofala thanksgiving service is usually graced by different groups of choristers from within and outside Anambra State. It was with great expectation that All Saints Anglican Church Enugu Choir traveled to Ukpo in Dunukofia local Government Council, Anambra State on December 24, 2017 to celebrate with Prince Arthur Eze and his brother Igwe (Dr.) R.C. Eze Okofia VI.

As usual, on arrival, the church was filled to the brim. It was a long but refreshing service that started from 9.00am and ended around 2.00 pm. Among the programmes of the service that thrilled everyone present in the church were the sermon, dance by Prince Arthur Eze and the wife, and the hymn singing.

Prince Arthur Eze and A Music Director

The sermon was delivered by Ven. G. N. Oji, the Vicar of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ukpo. As an elderly and experienced Priest, his sermon was full of hidden truth. I was so thrilled with the sermon, particularly for the three statements of facts that he made. He said that God will not judge the world based on religious denomination or affiliation but based on humans as individuals, tribes and nations. Moreover, he said that God is nobody’s personal possession, rather, he is the God of all; He owns everybody and everything and He can use anybody and anything. Consequently, he said that a married man who asked the wife not to touch a particular thing or enter a particular room in the house is looking for trouble because the wife will always want to find out what the man is hiding. He used this to illustrate the fact that Eve tasted the fruit Adam asked her not to taste as God instructed because she actually wants to find out what Adam is hiding from her and not wholly because devil in form of serpent deceived her; after all she could have resisted the devil if she wanted.

The time for Hymn singing was another thrilling moment. Different Choral groups like Arthur Eze Choir, All Saint’s Anglican Church Choir GRA, Enugu, Kings Choir Portharcourt and the Host Church Choir added glamour to the service as they each rendered different collection of Igbo Hymns accompanied with local instruments. It was actually an Ofala festival of Hymns because Prince Arthur Eze is so much in love with Hymns especially in Igbo from Igbo Hymn book known as ‘Ekpere na Abu’. Meanwhile, a general Igbo Hymn was sung and Prince Arthur Eze and the wife danced to the rhythm of the Hymn and local instruments. It was such a fun.

Consequently, the long awaited time came and the Vicar of the Church as usual invited Prince Arthur Eze to talk to the congregation. You need to be there to see how one man dishes out millions and billions of Naira with his mouth. I nearly fainted as he mentioned the millions and billions he has given out already and yet to give out to different groups that are engraved in his diary. The ease with which he mentions these huge sums of money will make you think he plucks them from his backyard, and he does as he says. After all said and done, we got our own share. But hey, don’t start imagining how many millions we were given because ours is not that much but it is good. He loves Hymns and music and therefore will not want to lose the choir that comes around to sing for him. If he gives us millions or billions, what do you think? We will not desire to go sing for him again.

However, after the church service, the Ofala Festival of Hymns was summed up with sumptuous a meal at Arthur Eze Village home where all the guests and villagers were entertained. As Arthur Eze moved around to greet people in their different canopies, I saw people following him up and down, making one financial request or the other. Aaaaw! The power of money! Well, even if I don’t get to partake in the Ofala festival of Hymns again, the memories of my experiences at Ukpo will never be erased from my memories.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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