Egba

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.

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 Egba 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 are made up of the following sub-divisions - the Ake, Owu, Okeona, 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 Oshinle of Okeona, and the Olubara of Ibara.

Egbaland was not only where Henry Townsend lived but also boast of the first newspaper in Nigeria; "Iwe Irolin".

People

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

Women *Wrapper, Iro; *Top, Buba; *Head Gear, 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
* 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 Management Academic, University Don in England, born and raised at Abalabi, a village in Owu Kingdom, Ogun state, Nigeria. Maternal descendant of Osunrinade family.
* Prince Adeyemi Gbadebo-Adekunle,ANIVS,RSV,AMNIM,A Descendant of the Gbadebo Adekunle
* 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, Distingushed Administrator and one time Nigerian Parmanent representative to United nations Royal Family of ilugun-Asalu Ake Egbaland.A notable chartered surveyor & valuer with enviable and meritorious record of service in the Nigeria Real estate sector.
* [Chief Opeki Fabunmi Sowunmi] 1920-2003 Ifa Priest Co-Founder del Instituto Orunmila Orisa de Cultura Uruguay, South America