Egba land

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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
There are some other songs that the egba people sing, here is one of them:
Egba ile ibe nigbagbo ti se wa, Egba ile ibe nigbagbo ti se wa
sa wa Egba lo ni jesu o
Here goes another short one
Awa lo mo abeokuta, ilu rere ilu olola
ilu to duro lase oluwa, Egba omo lisabi.

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

• Lisabi Agboagbo Akala, led the Egba revolt against Oyo and is regarded as the father of the Egba.
• Madam Tinubu, Efunroye Tinubu was a wealthy Egba trader and first Iyalode of Egbaland
• Efunsetan Aniwura, the second Iyalode of Ibadan was a wealthy and powerful Egba trader who later settled in Ibadan
• Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007
• Fela Kuti, Musician and activist
• Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, physician
• Wole Soyinka, Author, activist and Noble Laureat
• F. R. A. Williams, Lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN)
• Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Businessman and politician
• Prince Yanju Lipede, Crown Prince, Businessman and politician