The Egba people, both home and in diaspora, have commenced preparations for the 38th Lisabi Day Celebration designed to be celebrated in a grand style with the theme, ’Back to Land: Panacea for Food Sustainability and Youth Employment in Egbaland. ’
This, it is expected, will draw global attention, with number of activities lined up.
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 of note 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.
Oba Gbadebo stated that Lisabi festival remains a vibrant rallying point for all Egba sons and daughters both home and in the diaspora to celebrate the rich culture and bring to bear qualitative development to 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 history, development and accomplishment during his glorious reign.
He said the festival, scheduled to hold between March31-April 6, 2025, being 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 programme of events which will officially started 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 same day there will be commissioning of Ikopa hall, traditional ayo game at adire hall, Ake palace, football competition with semi-finals at St Peter College, Olomoore, Abeokuta and semi=finals of wrestling competition at Centenary Hall, Abeokuta.
The first-class traditional ruler added that on Tuesday there will be exhibition and agric show at the palace, finals of quiz competition, finals school debate at centenary hall, children social and educative programme at Amphitheatre at the palace and commissioning of library and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Sam Ewang Road, Abeokuta.
The programme designed for Wednesday include chieftaincy installation, seminar on food sustainability, commissioning of refurbished toilet facility at Egba Comprehensive High School, Aero, football finals with distribution of medals and trophies at Abeokuta Grammar School.
The monarch disclosed that on Thursday there will be procession to Lisabi forest by Obas, Chiefs, Baales, eminent personalities, youths and other, as well as visit to 2025 hero of the year (late Oba Ademola) at centenary hall.
He explained that on Friday there will be procession to Olumo rock, traditional prayers at Olumo rock, cultural entertainment by different cultural troupes at Olumo rock open ground, jummat service at central mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, youth musical concert at Ake palace, dinner and presentation of award
The monarch said Saturday, which is the grand finale, will take place at Amphitheatre located in the palace. The special guest of honour is Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
On the same day, there will be 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 same vein, there will be 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 musical interlude by Chief Ebenezer Obe-Fabiyi
On Sunday, there will be a thanksgiving service scheduled to hold at the Cathedral of St Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, followed with display of Oro at 12 midnight.
