Let’s discuss the essence of Christmas in Igboland and conclude with the significance of its branding for Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and his Solution Government. For Ndigbo generally, the yuletide goes beyond Christmas celebration. It serves as tourism and time for stocktaking and even pilgrimage. Igbo people return from all over the world to join up with kit and kin at home in auspicious celebrations that last for about two to three weeks on average in and around the communities across Igbo land.
In most Igbo communities, burials are banned from mid-December in order to give way to joyous Christmas celebrations and commence again in the first week of the New Year, when most burials that could have been held in December, then take place.
The month (Onwa) of December (Dezemba in Igbo pronunciation) is therefore not new. What is new is that Solution Governor Chukwuma Soludo wants it fully branded, unified, and celebrated annually in Anambra State—possibly grander than Detty December in Lagos, Calabar Carnival, and so on.
This bold new initiative in Anambra State is called “Onwa Dezemba.” You may have seen or heard of the Calabar Carnival initiated by the then Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State, in 2004. Others may refer to it as the Detty December of Lagos. But as the Americans say, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Wait until you behold Anambra’s very own ‘Onwa Dezemba’ fiesta of 2025!
It promises to be a global gathering. The Diaspora is flocking to Anambra State. Sons and daughters of Anambra State are poised to make the annual Yuletide journey back to the homeland from all the zones of Nigeria. It is a jam-packed feast. Call it ‘Onwa Dezemba’, and Ndi Anambra will bow!
There is nothing “dirty” in relation to ‘Onwa Dezemba’. The organising committee’s rich programmes embody the event’s character of cultural exhibitions and pure communal fun.
The ever resourceful Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, is through ‘Onwa Dezemba’ keeping alight his promise of developing a peaceful and pleasurable homeland that stands tall as a destination choice instead of a departure lounge. The Anambra community at large would gather together in their numbers and make merry in style and grandeur.
As Anambra’s famous son, Chinua Achebe, whom Soludo named the Chinua Achebe International Airport after, wrote in his iconic novel, ‘ Things Fall Apart’: “A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their homes. When we gather together on the moonlit village ground, we do not do so solely because of the moon. Every man can see it in his compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”
When the families of Anambra people living at home and abroad gather via the ‘Onwa Dezemba’ fiesta, the entire homeland will metaphorically be eating out of the same communal pot, from Abba to Olumbanasaa.
The fiesta kicked off on December 10, with the lighting up and decoration of the awe-inspiring Christmas tree at the Solution Fun City. ‘Onwa Dezemba’, arguably Africa’s grandest communal party, has officially commenced and will continue in full swing until January 2026. All the drivers of Onwa Dezemba are poised to execute the programme effectively, thus ensuring a memorable festive experience for Ndi Anambra in line with Mr Governor’s vision of delivering a liveable and prosperous Anambra. The Onwa Dezemba Festival is consciously being enshrined as an annual end-of-year celebration designed to bring Ndi Anambra together through culture, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and community engagement.
This inaugural 2025 edition features nine major events across Awka, Ekwulobia, and Onitsha. The other diverse towns of Anambra State have all keyed into the Onwa Dezemba phenomenon.
Key highlights include the Solution FunCity Christmas Cantata; the Masquerade Festival at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha; the Christmas Day Children’s Carnival at Solution FunCity; and the Masquerade Festival at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, which will be followed the next day by another Masquerade Festival at Township Stadium, Ekwulobia.
Solution FunCity will kick off the New Year with an LOL (Laugh Out Loud) Anambra event. Thereafter, Walk-for-Life gets into gear at Alex Ekwueme Square. There is the compelling All-White Old School Night at Solution FunCity.
The MegaFest 2.0 is a showstopper like no other, featuring elite performing artists anchored by Flavour na Abania & Friends.
‘Onwa Dezemba’ is a standout creation to promote Anambra as the cultural, entertainment, and tourism hub of the South East. It offers safe, well-organised festive events across multiple LGAs and engages youth through music, culture, comedy, carnivals, and fitness events. The inimitable fiesta boosts tourism potential and attracts FDI through strong media coverage and livestreams. It strengthens unity and togetherness among Ndi Anambra while offering much-needed support to creatives, performers, and MSMEs.
There is no greater branding masterpiece than the 2025 ‘Onwa Dezemba’, and it holds a powerful promise of surpassing, in due time, others similar to it. It is one of Soludo’s grand agendas to turn Anambra into a destination of choice, a place where Anambra people will look forward to returning to—a place individuals can live, work, learn, relax, and enjoy.
* Law Mefor, PhD, is Anambra’s Commissioner for Information.
