American Anthropologist Richard Henderson Arrives for 2026 Onitsha Ofala Festival
Renowned American anthropologist Professor Richard “Dick” Henderson has arrived in Lagos ahead of the 2026 Onitsha Ofala Festival, where he will attend as a special guest of the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe. Henderson, who travelled from Tucson, Arizona, with his son, Michael, is expected in Onitsha for the festival scheduled for October 16 and 17 at Ime Obi, Ezechima Square.
Henderson lived among the Ndi-Onicha from 1960 to 1962, studying their language, traditions and institutions. His influential 1972 book, The King in Every Man: Evolutionary Trends in Onitsha Ibo Society and Culture, remains an important scholarly account of Onitsha kingship, traditional titles, community structures and religious practices.
This year’s festival, themed “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru” (Strive and Advance: From Resilience to Progress), marks the 25th Ofala of the Obi and features the Iru Ofala and Azu Ofala ceremonies, the Oreze International Art Exhibition and the Ofala Youth Carnival. Henderson’s visit adds an international scholarly dimension to the celebration of Onitsha’s centuries-old monarchy and enduring cultural heritage.
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