The Egba people are a subgroup of the Yoruba people, an ethnic group of western Nigeria, a majority of whom are from the central part of Ogun State that is Ogun Central Senatorial District.
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 to the "Egba Forest" and formed what we now know as the city of Abeokuta.[1] 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.[2][3]
Historyedit
The Egba group, originally under the Oyo Empire, became independent following the spectacular collapse of Oyo in the first half of the 19th century.[4] 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".
A short introductory expose of The Egbas in Egba dialect by a native speaker
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 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 anthemedit
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
Other: Ipele - Piece of cloth placed on the shoulder or wrapped around the waist
Notable individualsedit
Ladapo Ademola, the Alake of Abeokuta from 1920 to 1962, member of the Egba council. Also, a leading figure in negotiations with the Lagos State colonial government.
^Biobaku, S. O. (1952). "An Historical Sketch of Egba Traditional Authorities" (PDF). Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 22 (1): 35–49. doi:10.2307/1157085. JSTOR 1157085. S2CID 145381656.
^"Egba People". LitCaf Encyclopedia. 18 January 2016.
Further readingedit
S. O. Biobaku: The Egba and their neighbours; 1842 - 1914. Oxford 1957.
November 27, 2023
egba, people, this, article, about, subgroup, yoruba, people, western, nigeria, european, gaming, betting, association, egba, confused, with, igbo, people, subgroup, yoruba, people, ethnic, group, western, nigeria, majority, whom, from, central, part, ogun, st. This article is about a subgroup of the Yoruba people in western Nigeria For European Gaming and Betting Association see EGBA Not to be confused with Igbo people The Egba people are a subgroup of the Yoruba people an ethnic group of western Nigeria a majority of whom are from the central part of Ogun State that is Ogun Central Senatorial District Ogun Central Senatorial District comprises six local government areas in Ogun State Abeokuta North Abeokuta South Ewekoro Ifo Obafemi Owode and Odeda local governments Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Egba anthem 4 Traditional attire 5 Notable individuals 6 References 7 Further readingEtymology editThe origination of the word Egba is disputed The first meaning may come from the word Ẹ gbalugbo 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 to the Egba Forest and formed what we now know as the city of Abeokuta 1 The Egbalugbo were in conjunction with the Ẹ gbaluwẹ or Ẹ gbalodo 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 Ẹsẹ gba the title of a chief which led several groups of the Egba to their present location 2 3 History editThe Egba group originally under the Oyo Empire became independent following the spectacular collapse of Oyo in the first half of the 19th century 4 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 source source source source source source source A short introductory expose of The Egbas in Egba dialect by a native speakerThe 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 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 editLori oke o un petele Ibe l agbe bi mi o Ibe l agbe to mi d agba oo Ile ominiraChorus Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori Olumo Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori OlumoAbeokuta 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 eChorus Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori Olumo Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori OlumoEmi o maayo l ori Olumo Emi o s ogoo yi l okan mi Wipe ilu olokiki o L awa Egba n gbeChorus Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori Olumo Maa yo maa yo maa yo o l Ori OlumoTraditional attire editMen Trousers kembe sokoto Top Buba and Agbada Cap Fila abeti aja Women Wrapper Iro Blouse Buba Headgear Headtie Gele Other Ipele Piece of cloth placed on the shoulder or wrapped around the waistNotable individuals editLadapo Ademola the Alake of Abeokuta from 1920 to 1962 member of the Egba council Also a leading figure in negotiations with the Lagos State colonial government Adegboyega Edun a clergyman teacher principal and government administrator the Secretary of the Egba United Government Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola a businessman and politician Akin Fayomi Nigerian diplomat ambassador to France Monaco Liberia Chief Olusegun Obasanjo President of Nigeria 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 Interim President of Nigeria 26 August 1993 17 November 1993 Chief Nollah Olakunle Edun renowned administrator and company secretary of UAC of Nigeria Plc at the same time with Ernest Shonekan as the MD Prof Wole Soyinka an author activist and Nobel laureate Chief F R A Williams S A N a lawyer Adewale Oke Adekola civil engineer academic author and administrator Pastor Tunde Bakare a lawyer and renowned pastor Mr Kolawole Banmeke Former Lagos State Head of Service and Secretary to Government 1985 1988 Tunde Kelani a cinematographer Segun Odegbami a retired footballer Dimeji Bankole a former speaker of Nigeria s house of representatives Bukola Elemide alias Asa a singer Olu Jacobs an actor Shina Peters a musician Alhaji Waheed Ayinla Yusuf Omowura a musician Prince Bola Ajibola a retired world court judge Chief Simeon Adebo a lawyer and diplomat Fela Sowande a composer Chief J F Odunjo Yoruba literary icon writer of the popular Alawiye series Tunde Lemo a CBN deputy governor John Fashanu a retired footballer Femi Kuti a musician Seun Kuti a musician Made Kuti a musician Clarence Peters 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 medical professor former Vice Chairman of the World Health Organization WHO Professor Saburi Biobaku a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos References edit Egba as Nigeria s premier nation guardian ng Retrieved 2023 09 18 Egba A History 16 February 2017 Biobaku S O 1952 An Historical Sketch of Egba Traditional Authorities PDF Africa Journal of the International African Institute 22 1 35 49 doi 10 2307 1157085 JSTOR 1157085 S2CID 145381656 Egba People LitCaf Encyclopedia 18 January 2016 Further reading editS O Biobaku The Egba and their neighbours 1842 1914 Oxford 1957 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Egba people amp oldid 1176007143, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
