Lisabi Festival 2025: Celebration of culture, heritage with steeze

• Lisabi festival celebrated the Egba people's rich cultural heritage and their legendary hero, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, who united the people against the Oyo Empire
• Dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu attended the festival, adding to its grandeur
• The festival featured a showcase of traditional Ofi, Adire, and Afrocentric styles, with attendees and performers turning out in stunning luxury furs and traditional attire

Abeokuta in Ogun State buzzed with life on Saturday, April 5 as the 2025 Lisabi Festival took centre stage, lighting up the historic city with an explosion of colour, culture, and undeniable class.

This year’s celebration, dubbed ‘Ègbáliganza 2025’, drew Egba sons and daughters from every corner of the globe to pay tribute to their legendary hero, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. 

Celebrated as a formidable warlord and farmer, Lisabi is revered for uniting the Egba people in their epic stand against the mighty Oyo Empire during the late 18th century. 

His visionary leadership not only freed the Egba from paying homage to the Alaafin of Oyo but also laid the groundwork for their independence.

A magnificent blend of tradition and contemporary flair defined this year’s festival, showcasing the rich and vibrant spirit of Egba's identity and pride. The atmosphere was electric, reminiscent of the renowned Ojude Oba festival celebrated by their Ijebu counterparts.

Attendees included dignitaries such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who turned heads in stunning luxury furs and traditional Adire Agbada. 

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu, and Nollywood icon Richard Mofe-Damijo also graced the occasion, elevating the star power amid the festivities.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, along with other esteemed chiefs, made a striking entrance in their majestic traditional attire, embellished with coral beads and wielding ceremonial staff, further underscoring the festival’s cultural significance. 

From pulsating drumbeats and captivating dances to high-fashion runway spectacles, festival-goers were treated to a mesmerizing display of traditional Ofi, Adire, and Afrocentric styles that truly broke the internet.

It was a day that seamlessly melded heritage and modernity, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

Netizens have expressed excitement at the unique and eye-catching look, loving the creativity and confidence displayed by the festival-goers, who proudly showcased their cultural heritage through fashion with ‘steeze.’

Here are some looks at the event;

Ojude Oba and 9 other colourful festivals in Nigeria

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier curated a list of similar festivals in Nigeria. 

Festivals are one of the most captivating cultural heritages of Nigeria, one of them is the Ojude Oba festival which took over the social media with elegance and style in 2024.