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.
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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.
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
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)
Between 1887-1892, the Egba Chiefs invited him to become the Alake of Abeokuta but his senior brother, Chief Samuel Sowemimo Coker, disallowed him for the fear that most of the Alakes then used to die prematurely.
History told us that all the arrangements he had made in preparation for the enthronement, like all the clothes he had ordered from abroad, were distributed between Oba Adila of Erunwon and the would be Oba Gbadebo 1, Alake of Abeokuta. It was further revealed that the rolls of clothes meant for Alake were laid from Itesi to Ake Palace for the new Alake to tred on to his Palace, after which Aderupoko sent all the rolls of clothes as gift to Oba Gbadebo 1. He then ordered another set of the rolls of clothes for himself. That was why Oba Gbadebo 1 and Chief Isaac Olufusibi Coker used to dress alike, almost everytime.
He was however compensated with the title of the first Oluwo of Abeokuta in 1905 by Oba Gbadebo 1 because he was forced not to accept the throne by his senior brother and he consented.
Whenever the Egba Native Authority was unable to pay their staff, he used to come to the aid of the Authority by paying the staff.
During the war, he recruited his own soldiers and that was why the boundary between Abeokuta and Ibadan (in Bakatari) was taken over by Aderupoko and also the boundary between Remo and Egbas (in Fidiwo) was taken over by Aderupoko to check the advancements of the enemies. That is why up till date, the boundary lands in Fidiwo and Bakatari are still in the possession of his children.
He was one of the guarantors of the loan of Thirty Thousand Pounds (£30,000.00) for Egbaland for the electrification and supply of pipe-borne water to Abeokuta.
[[ ]] [[ ]][[ ]] Chief Isaac Olufusibi Coker (Alias "Aderupoko") profile was added by Sope Coker.