The Egba indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora, have begun preparations for the 38th Lisabi Day Celebration. This year’s event will be held in grand style with the theme “Back to Land: Panacea for Food Sustainability and Youth Employment in Egbaland.” The celebration aims to attract global attention and will feature a variety of activities.
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo made this known on Monday at a press conference held at his Ake Palace, explaining that the landmark achievements hinged on individual and collective efforts.
‘It is worth noting that just like yesterday, the hands of the glorious clock of Egba history and development encapsulated and exhibited in our unique Lisabi Festival has ticked up to a year revealing our ever-progressive, dynamic, sophisticated lifestyle, development, richly endowed and enviable cultural heritage’, he said.
Gbadebo stated that Lisabi festival remains a vibrant rallying point for all Egba sons and daughters both home and in the diasporas to celebrate the richly endowed culture and bring to bear qualitative development in Egbaland
The monarch disclosed that the hero of this year celebration is late Alake, Oba Ladapo Ademola who ruled between 1920-1962, explaining that his choice was based on his contributions to the history, development and qualitative accomplishment during his glorious reign.
He said the festival has been scheduled to hold between March31-April 6, 2025, stressing that the 38th edition of the festival in its concept and projection will present an all-round reinvigorated celebration in tandem with its founding basis, current realities and expectations of such grand cultural festival of the global stage
The royal father highlighted the programme of events which will officially start on Monday, March 31, 2025, with booming of guns at Olumo Rock, cleaning of the four sectional palaces by the youth and public mobilization by women
He said on the same day there will be commissioning of Ikopa Hall, a traditional ayo game at Adire Hall, Ake palace, football competition with semi-finals at St Peter College, Olomoore, Abeokuta and semi=finals of a wrestling competition at Centenary Hall, Abeokuta.
The first-class traditional ruler added that on Tuesday there will be an exhibition and agricultural show at the palace, finals of the quiz competition, final school debate at the centenary hall, children’s social and educative programme at the Amphitheatre at the palace and commissioning of library and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Sam Ewang Road, Abeokuta.
The programme designed for Wednesday includes chieftaincy installation, seminar on food sustainability, commissioning of refurbished toilet facility at Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero, Abeokuta, football 3rd place and final with the distribution of medals and trophies at Abeokuta Grammar School.
The monarch disclosed that on Thursday there will be a procession to Lisabi forest by Obas, Chiefs, Baales, eminent personalities, youths and others, as well as a visit to the 2025 hero of the year (late Oba Ademola) at the centenary hall.
He explained that on Friday there will be a procession to Olumo Rock, traditional prayers at Olumo Rock, cultural entertainment by different cultural troupes at Olumo Rock open ground, Jummah Service at the central mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, youth musical concert at Ake palace, dinner and presentation of awards
The monarch said Saturday which is the grand finale will take place at Amphitheatre located in the palace, adding that the special guest of honour is Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Gbadebo said on same say there will be an Egba fashion celebration tagged, Egbaliganza, Woro dance, horse riding, homage by chiefs, bales, associations, clubs, youth and festival committee to the palace.
The royal father stated that in the same vein, there will be the launching of Egba book published by Egba group, presentation of scholarship by Egba National Association of United States of America (USA) and Canada, as well as a musical interlude by Chief Ebenezer Obe-Fabiyi
He equally disclosed that on Sunday there will be a thanksgiving service scheduled to be held at the Cathedral of St Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, followed by a display of Oro at 12midnight
