The annual Lisabi Festival, celebrating the legendary hero Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, took on a new dimension this year, with a focus on showcasing Egba’s cultural heritage and launching a major economic initiative.
Speaking on News Central’s Jasiri programme on Wednesday, Lai Labode, the Osi-Apagun of Egbaland and founder of Egbaliganza, detailed the festival’s significance and the ambitious plans for its future.
Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, revered for liberating the Egba people, is honoured annually through the Lisabi Festival. This year’s celebration, however, was particularly vibrant, driven by the encouragement of Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III.
According to Labode, the 80-year-old king, “a man young in the heart,” inspired Egba indigenes worldwide to return home and inject new energy into the festivities.
“We decided that the Lisabi celebration needs to go to the next level,” Labode stated, emphasising the creative and flamboyant nature of the Egba people.
“We need to show that there is an economic value to that.” This vision led to the incorporation of Egbaliganza into the week-long festival, featuring the Egba Fashion Celebration.
A key element of this initiative is the goal to establish a one billion dollar fashion industry in Egba land, with a broader reach across Yoruba land. “We are going to set a new standard that allows different ethnic groups to step up their game,” Labode explained.
Egbaliganza introduced unique Egba couture, including the “Abeti Oja” headgear, which varies in design based on the wearer’s status.
“You see what I’m wearing? It is called Abeti Oja, which has never existed,” Labode said, highlighting the newly created design. “Abeti Oja will have only two knots because I’m not a king.”
He further explained the distinctions in headgear for kings and high chiefs, noting the “Abeti Eye” worn by the Alake of Egbaland.
The festival also showcased other culturally significant items, such as the “Ologun Asiko,” a modern adaptation of a traditional bag.
Labode emphasised the importance of documenting these cultural elements for posterity. “Each of the things you saw at the event has a meaning,” he stated. “We are documenting this for history. There are so many festivals in the country, but the Egba couture is something else.”
With the launch of Egbaliganza and the focus on developing a thriving fashion industry, the Lisabi Festival has become a platform for both cultural celebration and economic development, marking a new chapter for Egba land.
