LISABI FESTIVAL

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).