Egba people

The Egba are a clan of the Yoruba people who live in western Nigeria. Many Egba live in the city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.

History

The Egba nation originally under the Oyo Empire became independent following the spectacular collapse of Oyo in the first half of the 19th century. Tribal wars with the Dahomey where the Egbas were successful partly due to the protection afforded by the Olumo Rock led to the founding of the city of Abeokuta, which literally means "under the rock".

The Egba nation is made up of the following sub-divisions - the Ake, Owu, Oke Ona, Gbagura and Ibara, each with its own king. During colonial rule the British recognised the Alake (or King of Ake) as the paramount ruler of the whole clan and their territory, and so, his successor is referred to as the Alake of Egbaland now. The titles of the kings of the aforementioned sub-divisions are therefore Alake of Egbaland, Olowu of Owu, Agura of Gbagura, Oshile of Oke Ona and Olubara of Ibara. It is worthy of note that the original town and settlement of the Egba nation was under and around Olumo rock, which is currently largely under the jurisdiction of the Oke Ona Egba.

Egbaland was not only where Henry Townsend lived but also boasted of being the home of the first newspaper in Nigeria ("Iwe Irohin"). Its people serve as the first of the many Nigerian nations (until recently, the only of them) to have had an anthem.

Egba Anthem

Lori oke o'un petele Ibe l'agbe bi mi si o Ibe l'agbe to mi d'agba oo Ile ominira

Chorus: Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo; Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo

Abeokuta ilu Egba Un ko nii gbagbe e re Un o gbe o l'eke okan mi Bii ilu odo oya Emi o f'Abeokuta sogo Un o duro l'ori Olumo Maayo l'oruko Egba ooo Emi omoo Lisabi E e

Chorus: Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo; Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo

Emi o maayo l'ori Olumo Emi o s'ogoo yi l'okan mi Wipe ilu olokiki o L'awa Egba n gbe E e

Chorus: Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo; Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo

People

Traditional Attire

Men *Trousers, kembe/sokoto; *Top, Buba and Agbada; *cap, Fila (a beti aja)

Women *Wrapper, Iro; *Top, Buba; *Headgear, Gele; *Others - Ipele - Piece of cloth placed on the shoulder or wrapped around the waist

Food *Lafu, (White Amala) and Ewedu soup;

Drink *Wara, (Cottage Cheese Drink)

Notable Egba people

Chief Isaac Olufusibi Coker (Alias "Aderupoko")- The first Oluwo of Egbaland (Itesi, Abeokuta), Chief Isaac Olufusibi Coker, the third son of Mama Sarah Taiwo was a very prosperous farmer and trader. He used to overload the canoes carrying his merchandise from Lagos to Abeokuta via the Ogun River. On sighting such overloaded canoe, people will exclaim “Ha! A-da-eru-pa-oko!”, hence, he was nicknamed “Aderupoko”. He became the first Oluwo of Itesi Abeokuta in 1897 after the death of Chief Lokunjobi, the junior brother of Mama Sarah Taiwo. Chief Bajela, the senior brother of Mama Sarah Taiwo was the Oluwo of Itesi, Abeokuta, and was the first to carry the mace of Ogboni (i.e. Edan – Opa ase Ogboni) – staff of authority of Ogboni – from the former Itesi town, Itesi in Abeokuta between 1828 and 1830. Chief Olufusibi Coker was an outstanding philanthropist and was very generous.

Between 1887-1892, the Egba Chiefs invited him to become the Alake of Abeokuta but his senior brother, Chief Samuel Sowemimo Coker, disallowed him for the fear that most of the Alakes then used to die prematurely.

History told us that all the arrangements he had made in preparation for the enthronement, like all the clothes he had ordered from abroad, were distributed between Oba Adila of Erunwon and the would-be Oba Gbadebo 1, Alake of Abeokuta. It was further revealed that the rolls of clothes meant for Alake were laid from Itesi to Ake Palace for the new Alake to tread on to his Palace, after which Aderupoko sent all the rolls of clothes as gift to Oba Gbadebo 1. He then ordered another set of the rolls of clothes for himself. That was why Oba Gbadebo 1 and Chief Isaac Olufusibi Coker used to dress alike, almost every time.

He was however compensated with the title of the first Oluwo of Abeokuta in 1905 by Oba Gbadebo 1 because he was forced not to accept the throne by his senior brother and he consented.

Whenever the Egba Native Authority was unable to pay their staff, he used to come to the aid of the Authority by paying the staff.

During the war, he recruited his own soldiers and that was why the boundary between Abeokuta and Ibadan (in Bakatari) was taken over by Aderupoko and also the boundary between Remo and Egbas (in Fidiwo) was taken over by Aderupoko to check the advancements of his enemies. That is why up to this date, the boundary lands in Fidiwo and Bakatari are still in the possession of his children.

He was one of the guarantors of the loan of Thirty Thousand Pounds (£30,000.00) for Egbaland for the electrification and supply of pipe-borne water to Abeokuta.

Engr. Olabode Olugbenga Elijah- Also known as Geolabious, His Grace Philosophy and Engineer
Mofolorunsho Oyebade Lipede- Alake of Egbaland 1972- 2005
William John Campbell - Nigerian Egba through his mother, Sarah Campbell, was a mayor/councilor in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Lisabi - 19th century warrior
Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007
Peter Olawale Odetayo, Artist - CEO Artwithinme Media Concept
Fela Kuti, Musician and activist
Olukoye Ransome-Kuti, physician
Adeoye Lambo, Psychiatrist and scholar
Peter Olakeinde Sogbesan, Eminent Pioneering civil-servant.
Prince Bola Ajibola, former Chief Justice of the Federation, former Judge, International Court of Justice
Saburi Biobaku, historian
Chief Peter Olakeinde Sogbesan, Pioneering Civil Servant and Super Perm Sec
F. R. A. Williams, Lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN)
Christopher Olaseinde Adeoye, Physician and Professor
Adebowale Babatunde Lipede, Physician, Philanthropist
Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Musician
Wole Soyinka, Author of Literature, Noble Prize award winner in Literature
Akinola Adewale Victor, data processing officer
Moshood Kasimawo Abiola-MKO, Businessman and politician
Adekoyejo Moses Majekodunmi, Doctor, former Minister of Health, former Administrator of Western Region (1962)
Fola Adeola, Foremost Banker
Chief Ernest Sonekan, Chairman Interim National Government after the annulled June 12, 1993 election
Chief Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, 1st Chief Judge of the Federation
Dr. Adebisi Philips Sunday Adewole, PhD
Justice George Oladeinde Sowemimo, Jurist, Former Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ransome Kuti, Founder and first Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers
Chief Simeon Adebo, Distinguished Administrator and one time Nigerian Permanent representative to United nations
Samuel Funmilade Onipede, Ph.D - University Lecturer in the United States.
Chief Isacc Oluwole Delano (author, developed Yoruba dictionary)
Chief Judge I. B. Delano (One time Chief Judge of Ogun State)
Chief Dr. Opeki Fabunmi Sowunmi (Ifa Priest, Consultant, Lecturer, Author, Director del Instituto Orunmila Orisa de Cultura Uruguay, South America) Oluwo Ifa. (1920–2003)
Olufela Anikulapo(Ransome Kuti) - Afrobeat Musician
Jimi Solanke - Playwright, Actor, Singer
Dimeji Sabur Bankole - Politician, Former Speaker of House of Assembly (2007-2011)
Chief Alani Bankole - Businessman tycoon & Politician
Chief Julius Taiwo Morolari - Banker
Yussuf Olatunji (Baba L'egba) - Musician
Chief Toye Coker {Senior Advocate of Nigeria}
Simeon Adewole Ademolake - Politician (First Elected Christian Democratic Councillor in UK)
Chief Adegunle Soetan OBE - Aro of the Egbas - eminent lawyer
Alhaji Fatai Akanmu Gbemisola-(Business Mogul in Tyre and Petroleum Major Dealer in Nigeria)
Dr Sefiu Alao Adekunle (Musician)
Queen Isimot Abake Abiola (Omo Opeki) (Musician)
Oluwaremilekun Temitayo (Writer, Film-maker, Musician, and Novelist)
Asiwaju Taiwo Solanke. (Award winning media practitioner- son of Jimi Solanke)

Tajudeen Sowunmi,
Alhaja Morounkeji Bashiru,
Victor Sowunmi,
Afolabi Sowunmi,
Awolowo Sowunmi,