Nigeria is a melting
pot for diverse culture, beliefs, values and tradition. A traveler from any
part of the country or the world would undoubtedly have an enjoyable time
experiencing the pomp and pageantry that come with commemorating our cultural
heritage. This is done through various traditional gatherings and festivals
celebrated by indigenes of the land.
It is in line with the
above, that the Egba people in their wisdom and vision have been gather once in
a year to remember their illustrious and brave liberator, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala
in the famous Lisabi Festival. The festival is a rallying point for all Egba
sons and daughters from far and wide to celebrate the fearless and brave feats
of Lisabi in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Little wonder the festival itself
took after the name of the warrior.
Importantly, the
Lisabi Festival is held in high esteem by the Egba people because it reminds
them of how they conquered their enemies in their torrid past as well as the
individuals that played key roles in liberating the people, especially Lisabi
Agbongbo-Akala. He was the hero of the war years of Egbaland as he gallantly
fought to defend the people against slavery and oppression. The Lisabi festival
is celebrated to recognize and appreciate his fearlessness and gallantry.
According to history,
when the other Egba leaders had resigned to fate under the unbearable servitude
they were consigned to by the Oloyo, Lisabi was preoccupied with the thought of
how his land of birth would be freed from the shackles of slavery. Towards
uniting the people from an onslaught against Oloyo’s formidable force which was
an amalgam of many towns and villages which were similarly consigned to
servitude, Lisabi reportedly formed a cooperative society which had able-bodied
men who were farmers as members.
Abeokuta’s history
points to the fact that Lisabi proved to be an energetic leader as he worked
harder than others whenever they went to work on a member’s farm, so much that
every member promised to do his best when it was time to work on Lisabi’s farm.
When his (Lisabi’s)
time came, instead of asking members to work on his farm, he declared war on
Oyo. His cooperative society members were amazed and afraid, but accepted to go
to war because they did not want to disappoint him by reneging on their
promises.
With supreme war tactics, Lisabi’s army, whose
numerical strength was far lesser than that of the Oloyo, won the battle,
consequently obtaining freedom for the Egbas.
OLUMO ROCK
The history of Egba
Land is incomplete without referencing the Olumo Rock. The rock is arguably the
most popular landscape and tourists’ attraction in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Egba
People cherish this major landmark because it provided them refuge during war
and a vantage position to attack and finally overcome their enemies.
Hence,
it is not surprising that the Lisabi Festival kicks-off with the traditional
boom of guns on the Olumo Rock. This boom is a signal to all and sundry that
the weeklong festival has started and you are invited to join in the fanfare.
The
celebration radiates and showcases the glitz and glitterati of Egba and Egba
People. Resplendent attires, deftly and beautifully plaited hair, acrobatic
dance steps and traditional songs are usually on display to the applause of
enthusiastic audience.
The
King of Egba Land or kingdom, popularly referred to as the Alake of Egba Land,
His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo who by rite usually host the
event, receives his subjects belonging to different age grades at the palace as
they come to pay homage to him
In
this era and time, Lisabi festival has gone beyond some traditional individuals
coming together to celebrate the fearless feat of a farmer (Lisabi), it is now
been used as a rallying point to articulate issues germane to the development
of Egba Land and its people. The festival has become a global festival which
attracts not only tourist, visitors, sons and daughters from far and wide, but
also giant telecommunication and corporate bodies who identifies with such
festival, thereby sponsoring and supporting the weeklong activities as their Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR).
