SPECIAL REPORT: Pictures, Video of Lisabi Day's Egbaliganza 2026 & Significance of Lisabi to The Egba (Festival)

 Aare Lai Labode, Egba high chief & organizer, Egbaliganza (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

Lisabi Festival of the Egba people of Ogun state has commenced with fanfare, glamour and lots of excitement.

Activities commemorating thr vent commenced on Monda, March 23 and will officially end tomorrow, March 29.

      Aare Lai Labode (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

It is to celebrate the symbolic historical figure of Lisabi, the ancient famed irrepressible Egba warrior, who led the independence war of the Egba peoples from the servitude of the old Oyo empire. He was a noted farmer and famously started the Aro system where farmers formed a union where they collectively farmed a member's farm per time at allocated times. 

Imisi, winner, Big Brother Naija 2025 (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

A roster was formulated and all Egba farmers collectively gather ti farm, plant and harvest from a member's farm. Next, they will gather to another's farm till they have farmed one another's farms round Egbaland.

Lisabi Agbongbo Akala (Courtesy Ake Palace archives)

This Aro system fostered unity amongst the farmers. It marked the launch pad of Lisabi's mobilization of Egba farmers to fight against the Oyo empire. And Egba people won in s hard-fought battle to get this independence.

Lisabi remained an enigma. Due to the superb ways he employed to fortify the farmers, who hitherto were not warriors but mere farmers, to become dreaded warriors led to the realization that he was not an ordinary man. Despite the avalanche of women jostling for his live with some even betrothed to him free, Lisabi refused to marry. He did not have children. There are no descendants of Lisabi in Egbaland. 

     Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, proud Egba son, today (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, another proud Egba son at the event, today (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

But, because of his heroics, he was ordained as the "Father" of the Egba peoples and all indigenous people are his children. That's how he is forever immortalized today in the oanegyrics of the Egba who are called "Egba omo Lisabi Agbongbo Akala". Translated, it means the Egba, the descendants of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala.

                (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

             (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

(Courtesy Egbaliganza)

And, to celebrate Egba history, culture, business savvy in glamorous pomp and pageantry with Lisabi serving as nucleus of this in furtherance of Egba People's solemn declaration centuries ago thst he never had children to carry on his name and he refused to become king, Lisabi would be celebrated in name and culture as forever as the "Father" of the Egba.

(Courtesy Egbaliganza)

               Courtesy Egbaliganza)

.  (Courtesy Egbaliganza)

It is in honour of that promise the Lisabi Festival started under former Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oyebade Lipede. It icontinued under present Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, and the Paramount Ruler of the Egba Kingdom.

(Courtesy Egbaliganza)

        Overview of VIP section in the middle of the arcade, Ake Palace Grounds Courtesy Lisabi Festival)

Watch video beneath; 

(Courtesy Egbaliganza)