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The Egba are a subgroup of the Yoruba people who live in western Nigeria. Many Egba live in the city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.
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History
The Egba nation originally under the Oyo empire became independent following the collapse of the Oyo empire 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 appointed the Alake of Ake (king of Ake) as the paramount ruler and is therefore referred to often now as the Alake of Egbaland. The titles of the kings of the aforementioned sub-divisions are the Alake of Egbaland, the Olowu of Owu, the Agura of Gbagura, the Oshile of Oke Ona, and the 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 Oke Ona Egba.
Egbaland was not only where Henry Townsend lived but also boast of the first newspaper in Nigeria ("Iwe Irohin") as well as the first of the many Nigerian nations (until recently, the only) with 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 *Trouser, 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
- 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
- Fela Kuti, Musician and activist
- Olukoye Ransome-Kuti, physician
- Adeoye Lambo, Psychiatrist and scholar
- Prince Bola Ajibola, former Chief Justice of the Federation, former Judge, International Court of Justice
- Saburi Biobaku, historian
- Chief Peter Olakeinde Sogbesan, Distinguished Civil Servant
- F. R. A. Williams, Lawyer
- Christopher Olaseinde Adeoye, Physician and Professor
- Adebowale Babatunde Lipede,Physician,Philanthropist
- Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Musician
- Wole Soyinka, Author of Literature
- Akinola Adewale Victor, data processing officer
- Moshood Abiola, 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 Parmanent representative to United nations
- Samuel Funmilade Onipede, Ph.D University Lecturer in the United States, also born and raised at Abalabi Town.
- Bashorun Doja Adewolu Health Administrator (The First Agoro of Egbaland and bashorun Owu Kingdom).
- 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) Oluwo Ifa. (1920-2003)
- Olufela Anikulapo(Ransome Kuti) - Afrobeat Musician
- Otunba Gbenga Daniel - Ogun State Governor
- Jimi Solanke - Playwright, Actor,Singer
- Dimeji Sabur Bankole - Politician
- Chief Alani Bankole - Businessman tycoon & Politician
- Bukola ASA Elemide - Singer
- Yussuf Olatunji(Baba L'egba) - Musician
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