Preparations begin for Onitsha inaugural Golibe Festival 2018

The planning committee of the ‘Golibe Festival’ has announced December 23 2018 to January 1, 2019, as dates for the maiden edition of the festival, which is scheduled to hold in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to committee, the festival, which aims to provide a unique end of year celebration event in the eastern commercial city, will bring together residents of Anambra and entire South Eastern States and visiting indigenes from the diaspora.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the organising committee, Amalunweze Francis Anatogu said that in local parlance, ‘Golibe’ simply means ‘to rejoice’.

“The Golibe festival will be a world-class entertainment experience for 10 days in Onitsha.

Our objective is to provide the grandest entertainment experience in Eastern Nigeria;it will be packed with everything from music to art to culture, dance, food and fun activities for all ages.

“The timing is key as end of year is the period of celebration and thanksgiving globally. For people of Eastern Nigeria, it is a period of homecoming. So, Golibe Festival will make family and friends’ reunion a lot of fun.

“It provides opportunities to introduce our customs, traditions, language, food, arts and craft to the indigenes in the diaspora and to those seeking new thrills.

Besides entertainment, Golibe Festival will contribute to the local economy and project local businesses and talents,” he said.

Anatogu explained that with an estimated 100,000 attendees, the festival will provide a major opportunity for companies and small business owners to boost their brand visibility, and that it will encourage product and service trial as well selling of their products.

“Golibe Festival packs an exciting schedule with key activities like an open palace visitation to the Obi of Onitsha on December 23.

The official opening ceremony will take place on December 24, and will be hosted by the Obi of Onitsha, HRM Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, with dignitaries from Onitsha, Anambra State and across Nigeria,” he added.

Also scheduled for December 24 is the grand finale of the Christmas Carol competition featuring various choir, music groups and solo singers. The finals of the village football competition featuring young talent in the city will hold on December 26, while an exciting funfair featuring arcade games and entertainment for children and teenagers will open on December 25 and run until December 31.

A live music concert scheduled to run for six days beginning from December 25, will feature live music performances with some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars and a slew of up and coming artistes, culminating at a spectacular firework display at midnight of January 1.

According Anatogu, in addition, the Golibe Festival Carnival, which will hold on December 29, will feature floats from villages, age grades and other groups from Onitsha and around the world.

Poised to produce a stellar festival, the committee has partnered with an award-winning production house, Theatrical Production, infusing elements of Onitsha — past, present, and future.

The festival, the committee said, will also feature video documentaries about the Onitsha people, history, culture and traditions, cultural dances, arts and crafts exhibition, master classes on local food and drinks, and lots more.

The Golibe Festival is endorsed by the Obi of Onitsha, HRM Alfred Achebe and backed by the Obi-in-Council, relevant local governments and the government of Anambra state.

To ease travel and logistics constraints, the festival committee has also confirmed that transportation services, hotels and bed, and breakfasts for out-of-town visitors will be pre-qualified upon registration.