By redefining Christmas beyond festivity, the Anambra State Government has unveiled Onwa Dezemba, a bold cultural and tourism initiative designed to position the state as a prime end-of-year destination in Nigeria and beyond.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, Christmas in Igboland transcends merrymaking. It is a season of homecoming, tourism, reunion, and reflection, drawing Ndi Igbo from across the globe back to their ancestral homes for weeks of communal celebration.
“December is when Igbo people return from all over the world to reunite with family and friends. It is a pilgrimage season, a period of stocktaking and communal bonding that lasts two to three weeks across Igboland,” Mefor said.
He noted that in many Igbo communities, burials are traditionally suspended from mid-December to allow space for joyful Christmas celebrations, resuming in the New Year—further underscoring the cultural weight of the season.
While Onwa Dezemba—the Igbo interpretation of December—has always existed, Mefor explained that what is new is Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s vision to formally brand, unify and elevate it into an annual, world-class cultural experience unique to Anambra.
“This is about creating a festive identity that rivals and, in time, surpasses initiatives like Lagos’ Detty December and the Calabar Carnival,” he said.
The initiative, branded ‘Onwa Dezemba’, is positioned as a grand, family-friendly, culture-rich celebration rooted in Igbo values, void of excesses, and centred on community, heritage and shared joy.
Mefor said the 2025 edition promises a massive influx of Anambra indigenes from the diaspora and across Nigeria, describing it as a global reunion of sons and daughters returning home.
“It is a jam-packed feast of culture, entertainment and togetherness. Call it ‘Onwa Dezemba’ and Ndi Anambra will bow,” he said.
He stressed that the event is deliberately curated to reflect cultural pride, communal fun and social harmony, aligning with Soludo’s vision of Anambra as a place of destination rather than departure.
Through Onwa Dezemba, Governor Soludo is advancing his commitment to building a peaceful, prosperous and pleasurable homeland—one where people can live, work, relax and return to with pride.
Quoting Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Mefor likened the celebration to a communal feast where people gather not out of need, but because unity itself is valuable.
“When Ndi Anambra gather during Onwa Dezemba, the entire state metaphorically eats from the same pot—from Abba to Olumbanasaa,” he said.
The festival officially kicked off on December 10 with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Solution Fun City and will run until January 2026.
The inaugural edition features nine major events across Awka, Onitsha and Ekwulobia, with other towns actively participating. Highlights include:
- Solution Fun City Christmas Cantata
- Masquerade Festival at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha
- Christmas Day Children’s Carnival at Solution Fun City
- Masquerade Festivals at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, and Township Stadium, Ekwulobia
The New Year activities include:
- LOL (Laugh Out Loud) Anambra
- Walk-for-Life at Alex Ekwueme Square
- All-White Old School Night
- MegaFest 2.0, headlined by Flavour na Abania & Friends
Mefor described Onwa Dezemba as a strategic branding masterpiece that positions Anambra as the cultural, entertainment and tourism hub of the South-East.
“It strengthens unity, boosts tourism, attracts foreign direct investment, supports creatives and MSMEs, and offers safe, well-organised festivities across multiple LGAs,” he said.
With extensive media coverage and livestreams, the festival also projects Anambra onto the global stage.
According to the commissioner, Onwa Dezemba is being institutionalised as an annual celebration and stands as one of Governor Soludo’s most powerful branding initiatives yet—reinforcing his vision of a liveable, prosperous and globally attractive Anambra State.