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The Egba people are a subgroup of the
Yoruba people The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
, an ethnic group of western
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...
, a majority of whom are from the central part of
Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...
that is Ogun Central Senatorial District. Ogun Central Senatorial District comprises six local government areas in Ogun State:
Abeokuta North Abeokuta North is a Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Akomoje, near Abeokuta. It has an area of 808 km and a population of 201,329 at the 2006 census. The loca ...
, Abeokuta South, Ewekoro, Ifo, Obafemi Owode and
Odeda Odeda (or Awdeda) is a Local Government Area and town in Ogun State, Nigeria. The headquarters of the LGA are at Odeda on the A5 highway. It has an area of 1,560 km and a population of 109,449 at the 2006 census. The local government is b ...
local governments.


Etymology

The origination of the word Egba is disputed. The first meaning may come from the word Ẹ̀gbálugbó, meaning wanderers towards the forest, and this comes from the fact that the ancestors of the Egba people came from the region of the
Oyo Empire The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba people, Yoruba empire of West Africa made up of parts of present-day eastern Benin and western Nigeria (including Southwest zone and the western half of Northcentral zone). It grew to become the largest Yo ...
to the "Egba Forest" and formed what we now know as the city of Abeokuta. The "Egbalugbo" were in conjunction with the Ẹ̀gbáluwẹ or Ẹ̀gbálodó, meaning the wanderers towards the river, who later shortened their name to " Egbado," another subethnic group of the Yoruba. Another possible meaning may come from the word Ẹsẹ̀gbá, the title of a chief which led several groups of the Egba to their present location.


History

The Egba group, originally under the
Oyo Empire The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba people, Yoruba empire of West Africa made up of parts of present-day eastern Benin and western Nigeria (including Southwest zone and the western half of Northcentral zone). It grew to become the largest Yo ...
, became
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independe ...
following the spectacular collapse of Oyo in the first half of the 19th century. Wars with the Dahomey, in which 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 nation is made up of the following subdivisions: the Ake, Owu, Oke Ona and Gbagura, each with its own king. (Historically, the Egba nation is made up of these four divisions; Ibara, though geographically located in Abeokuta as well, is part of Yewaland.) 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 now referred to as the Alake of Egbaland. The titles of the kings of the aforementioned subdivisions are therefore ''Alake of Egbaland'', ''Oshile of Oke Ona'', ''Agura of Gbagura'', and ''Olowu of Owu'', in order of settlement and seniority in the Egba nation. It is worthy of note that the original town and settlement of the Egba nation in Egbaland was under and around Olumo Rock, which is in the Ikija/Ikereku area of the Egba Oke Ona, The Jagunna of Itoko, an Oke Ona chief, is the high priest of Olumo. Olumo Rock is in the territory of and under the control of the Itokos. Another reference name for Abeokuta by the founding fathers is ''Oko Adagba'' (Adagba's Farm) in reference to the hunter that discovered Olumo Rock. Adagba went hunting in search of game animals from the Obantoko township where his fellow Itoko citizens were stationed while wandering for a settlement. He then came across the mountain. Egbaland was where Henry Townsend lived, and was also the home of the first
newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sport ...
in Nigeria (''Iwe Iroyin''). Its people went on to serve as the first of the many Nigerian nations (until recently, the only one of them) to have an anthem.


Egba anthem

:Lori oke o'un petele :Ibe l'agbe bi mi 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 :N ko ni gbagbe e re :N o gbe o l'eke okan mi :Bii ilu odo oya :Emi o f'Abeokuta sogo :N 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 :Chorus: Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo; Maa yo, maa yo, maa yo o; l'Ori Olumo


Traditional attire

* Men: **
Trousers Trousers (British English), slacks, or pants are an item of clothing worn from the waist to anywhere between the knees and the ankles, covering both legs separately (rather than with cloth extending across both legs as in robes, skirts, and ...
, kembe/
sokoto Sokoto is a major city located in extreme northwestern Nigeria, near the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of over 427,760. Sokoto is the modern-day capital of Sokoto State and was previously th ...
** Top, Buba and
Agbada The boubou or grand boubou is a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn across West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, related to the dashiki suit. The garments and its variations are known by various names in different ethnic groups and l ...
** Cap, Fila (abeti aja) * Women: ** Wrapper (''Iro)'' **
Blouse A blouse (blau̇s, 'blau̇z, ) is a loose-fitting upper garment that was worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women, and children.The Concise Oxford English Dictionary It is typically gathered at the waist or hips (by tight hem, pleats, parter ...
(''Buba)'' **
Headgear Headgear, headwear, or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head, including hats, helmets, turbans and many other types. Headgear is worn for many purposes, including protection against the elemen ...
/Headtie (''Gele)'' ** Other: Ipele - Piece of cloth placed on the shoulder or wrapped around the waist


Notable individuals

* Adegboyega Edun, a clergyman, teacher, principal and government administrator; the Secretary of the Egba United Government * Chief
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , also known as M. K. O. Abiola (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, and politician. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan. M.K.O. ...
, a businessman and politician * Akin Fayomi, Nigerian diplomat, ambassador to France, Monaco, Liberia * Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pre ...
,
President of Nigeria The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Niger ...
from 1999 to 2007 * Chief Ebenezer Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, a musician and evangelist * Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a musician and activist * Chief Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a human rights activist and the "Mother of the Nation" * Reverend Oludotun Israel Ransome-Kuti, clergyman, a teacher and principal (April 30, 1891 – April 6, 1955) * Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a pediatrician, activist, and health minister (30 December 1927 – 1 June 2003) * Chief
Ernest Shonekan Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from 1 ...
, Interim President of Nigeria, 26 August 1993 – 17 November 1993 * Prof.
Wole Soyinka Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...
, an author, activist and Nobel laureate * Chief F. R. A. Williams S.A.N., a lawyer. *
Adewale Oke Adekola Adewale Oke Adekola (26 March 1932 – March 1999) was a Nigerian engineer, academic, author, and administrator. He was the first Nigerian dean of engineering and head of civil engineering at the University of Lagos. He was the founding vice chan ...
, civil engineer, academic, author, and administrator * Pastor
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, a lawyer and renowned pastor *
Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born 26 February 1948), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and have a root in documentation ...
, a cinematographer * Segun Odegbami, a retired footballer * Dimeji Bankole, a former speaker of Nigeria's house of representatives *
Bukola Elemide Bukola is a Nigerian unisex given name of Yoruba origin which means "added wealth." It is a diminutive version of names such as "''Oluwabukola''" meaning "God has added to Wealth" and "''Adebukola''" meaning "The Crown has added to Wealth". Notable ...
, alias ''Asa'', a singer *
Olu Jacobs Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, (born 11 July 1942), known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a Nigerian actor and film executive. He has starred in several British television series and international films. Olu Jacobs has been hailed by many as one ...
, an actor *
Shina Peters Sir Shina Peters (born 30 May 1958) is a Nigerian Jùjú musician. Life Born Oluwashina Akanbi Peters in Ogun State, Peters' career in music began at a young age when he played with friends under the handle Olushina and His Twelve Fantastic Br ...
, a musician * Alhaji Waheed Ayinla Yusuf (Omowura), a musician * Prince
Bola Ajibola Bolasodun Adesumbo "Bola" Ajibola, KBE (born March 22, 1934)Mielle K. Bulterman, Martin KuijeCompliance with judgments of international courts/ref> was Attorney General and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria from 1985 to 1991 and a Judge of the I ...
, a retired world court judge * Chief Simeon Adebo, a lawyer and diplomat * Chief
J.F. Odunjo Chief Joseph Folahan Odunjo (1904–1980) was a Nigerian writer, educator and politician best known for his works in Yoruba children's literature. Early life and education Odunjo was born in Ibara, Abeokuta in 1904. He was educated at St Augusti ...
, Yoruba literary icon, writer of the popular ''Alawiye'' series *
Tunde Lemo Tunde Lemo or Tunde O. Lemo Bloomberg : Executive Profile and background of Tunde O. Lem/ref> (born 1959) is a Nigerian banker and former deputy governor of operations and director of the Central Bank of Nigeria. As of 2018, he serves as chairman of ...
, a CBN deputy governor * John Fashanu, a retired footballer *
Femi Kuti Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born 16 June 1962), popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, Women's ri ...
, a musician *
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, a music video director * Ebun Oloyede, an actor * Senator Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state from 2011 to 2019 * Chief Olusegun Osoba, a journalist and politician, governor of Ogun state from 1999 to 2003 * Zainab Balogun, an actress and model * Professor
Adeoye Lambo Thomas Adeoye Lambo, (March 29, 1923 – March 13, 2004) was a Nigerian scholar, administrator and psychiatrist. He is credited as the first western trained psychiatrist in Nigeria and Africa. Between 1971 and 1988, he worked at the World Heal ...
, medical professor, former Vice Chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) * Professor Saburi Biobaku, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.


References


Further reading

* S. O. Biobaku: ''The Egba and their neighbours; 1842 - 1914''. Oxford 1957. {{authority control Yoruba subgroups Ethnic groups in Nigeria