In the late 18th century there once lived a farmer who lived in the Ẹgba.
He was called Lísàbí Agbọ̀ngbọ̀ Àkálà. He was described as a very tall and broad fellow, who lived in Igbein but originally from Itoku.
Ẹsí ẹni mọ ẹiyẹ tó sú (no one knew who his parents were) but he was said to be a cheerful, hardworking and respective young man.
According to history, the Ẹgbas were then under the suzerain of the Olóyo/Aláàfin who received ìsákólẹ̀ (tributaries) from the
Ẹgbas through his Ajeles (representatives or tax collectors). These Ọyo-Ajeles were reportedly brutish and avaricious such that the Ẹgbas became tired of their excesses.
But they all resigned to fate, esí ọhun a má sé Aláàfin l’oni ile baawà. While they’ve all given up, Lisabi was preoccupied with plans on how to liberate his people.
Lisabi took advantage of the breakdown of law and order in Oyo-ile after Afonja’s revolt on Aláàfin Aole.
He turned the Aro traditional system where farmers helped One another on their farms into an underground army, and changed its name too Egba Olorogun (Egba Ọ̀ ni orogún: Egba has no rival).
They all agreed to the plot and perfected their attacks. When the Ajeles came with their usual raking, Lisabi signalled his small army and Nearly all the Ajeles were slaughtered about 600 of them were wiped out.
Ẹni orí yọ ó di ilé, those who escaped the onslaught reported to Bashorun Ashamu who was acting as a regent in Oyo. And since he could not summon Afonja, he drafted young Oyo and Ibarapa Army instead and they head to Igbehin hoping to crush it and bring Lisabi’s head to Oyo but “e shock them”.
Lisabi had ordered everyone to desert the town. He and his army hid in ravines and the Oyo soldiers easily fell into their trap, the Òyós were defeated and Lisabi
Won independence for his people. Ẹgba became an independent state afterwards.
The Lisabi festival is the celebration of Ẹgba independence and the appreciation of his fearlessness and gallantry.
Lisabi festival is usually held annually by the Egba people in remembrance of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. Lisabi, an Egba warrior, is venerated for his heroic exploits during those turbulent days of inter-tribal wars and he is thus identified by all Egba people as the strength of their togetherness.
According to the history of Abeokuta, Lisabi forest houses the remains of the legendary farmer turned warrior.
Lisabi, a native of Itoku in the ancient town of Abeokuta, lived at Igbein area of the city, and because of his prowess in warfare, the people of Igbein, till date, have the exclusive right to the war title of Balogun of Egbaland.
According to history, when the other Egba leaders had resigned to fate under the unbearable servitude they were consigned to by the Oloyo, Lisabi was preoccupied with the thought of 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 an amalgam of many towns and villages which were similarly consigned to servitude, Lisabi reportedly formed a cooperative society which had able-bodied men who were farmers as members.
Abeokuta’s history points to the fact that Lisabi proved to be an energetic leader as he worked harder than others whenever they went to work on a member’s farm, so much that every member promised to do his best when it was time to work on Lisabi’s farm.
When his (Lisabi’s) time came, instead of asking members to work on his farm, he declared war on Oyo. His cooperative society members were amazed and afraid, but accepted to go to war because they did not want to disappoint him by reneging on their promises.
With supreme war tactics, Lisabi’s army, whose numerical strength was far less than that of the Oloyo, won the battle, consequently obtaining freedom for the Egbas.
In celebrating this important part of the Egba history, the annual march to the Lisabi forest becomes a major event.
However, the event will be celebrated traditionally. Egba sons and daughters will visit the Lisabi Sacred Forest in Oba village, Obafemi/Owode Local Government, Ogun State.
History of the Egba has it that the Lisabi forest houses the remains of the legendary man, Lisabi.
History has it that he disappeared in a forest, the forest is now known as Lisabi sacred forest.
1st of April 2019, The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has unveiled the statue of the late Egba warrior, Lisabi, known to have protected his people from various neighborhood invasions.
Governor Amosun who performed the unveiling at Adatan Roundabout, Abeokuta, in the presence of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, who is also the Chairman, Council of Obas, Oba (Dr.) Aremu Gbadebo, described the warlord as a man who had the love of his people at heart, saying the good he did for Egba people was now being recognized yearly.
Story credit: Proud to be a Yoruba.