Lisabi Festival 2012… Celebrating freedom, the Egba people way

With the Lisabi Festival 2012, OYASAF revisits the history of traditional African slavery, resistance of the Egba people and celebration of heroism.

Before dawn at the start of the Lisabi Festival, every year, gaily-dressed Egba men, women and children assemble at the Alake (King) of Egba’s palace in Ake, Abeokuta, patiently waiting for a visit to the Lisabi Sacred Forest in Oba village, Obafemi/Owode Local Government, Ogun State.

A visitor may ask: Lisabi Sacred Forest?  Yes, a scared forest.  History of the Egba has it that the Lisabi forest houses the remains of the legendary farmer turned warrior, Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala, the man who led the war that freed the Egba people from slavery under the then Oloyo. The Oloyo was the paramount ruler of the old Oyo Kingdom, a powerful imperialist whose government extended to the old Dahomey, in present day Benin Republic.

Lisabi Festival celebrants during the 2012 edition. PHOTO: OYASAF DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER ARIYO OGUNTIMEHIN

History explains that when other Egba leaders had resigned to fate under the unbearable servitude they were consigned to by the Oloyo, Lisabi planned and strategised on how his land of birth would be freed from the shackles of slavery. Towards uniting the people for an onslaught against Oloyo’s formidable force, which was then an amalgam of many towns and villages that were similarly consigned to servitude, Lisabi formed a resistance society, which included farmers as members.

Abeokuta’s history points to the fact that Lisabi proved to be an energetic leader as he always worked harder than others whenever there was a collective efforts to work on each member’s farm. And when it was time to work on Lisabi’s farm, every member promised to do his best.

When the time came to work on Lisabi’s farm, instead of asking members to work on his farm, he declared war on Oyo kingdom. His society members were amazed and afraid, but accepted to go to war because they did not want to disappoint him by reneging on their longstanding promise to him.
 
With supreme war tactics, Lisabi’s army, whose numerical strength was far less than that of the Oloyo, won the war, consequently gaining freedom for the Egba people. In celebrating this important part of the Egba history, the annual march to the Lisabi forest becomes a major event.
In February 2012, sons and daughters of Egba, decked in white attires, board their respective vehicles, and in a long convoy, headed for the sacred Lisabi forest.

After a successful entry into the forest, and as usual came the rendition of Egba anthem: “Lori oke ati petele, ibe la gbe bi mi si o...” (On the top of hills and in the valley, there I was born...) was proudly sung by everyone present, including the Alake. After this, the Alake and his chiefs took their seats, while the Oluwos (chief priests) of smaller Egba towns such as Itoku, Igbein and others pay homage to the king, informing him that they had earlier offered sacrifices to the spirit of the legendary Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala and that his spirit has accepted the sacrifices.

Lisabi Festival celebrants during the 2012 edition. PHOTO: OYASAF DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER ARIYO OGUNTIMEHIN

After this, other priests, warriors, oro cult members etc. take their respective turns to pay homage to the Alake.
During such visitation to the forest, the Alake offers prayers to all Egba children at home and in Diaspora for success in their respective endeavours. He also prays for the unity of Egbaland and peace in Nigeria. After the prayer, the monarch and his people descend from the sacred forest for the journey back home to Abeokuta for another round of the festival at the palace of the Alake.
 
At the palace, a mammoth crowd of Egba sons and daughters, patiently seating under several canopies, wait for the monarch and his chiefs to arrive from the forest. While waiting, several traditional institutions like the Oluwos (traditional priests) Oloroguns (traditional soldiers) Parakoyis (the traditional market controllers) among others, as well as the worshippers of traditional deities such as  Olomolus, kori, Osun and Igunnuko masquerade faithful, and others take their turn to pay homage to the Alake, blessing him and receiving blessings from him. At the end of all these, Alake closes the Lisabi Festival with another round of prayer for the Egba people and the nation, after which, Egba anthem is once again sung. The retreat of the Alake and his chiefs to the inner chambers of the palace, marks the end of the colourful Lisabi Festival.