Egba

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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.

[edit] 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".

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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 Kingdon, Ogun state, Nigeria. Maternal descendant of Osunrinade family.