Lisabi Festival: Committee Rebuts Claims of Egbaliganza Takeover

The Lisabi Festival Committee has issued a strong rebuttal to swirling online claims that the forthcoming 39th edition of the historic celebration is being transformed into a platform for Egbaliganza, the cultural fashion initiative championed by Chief Lai Labode, the Aare of Egbaland.

The committee in a press statement on Wednesday signed by High Chief Rasheed Raji, the Asipa of Egbaland and Chairman of the Lisabi Festival Committee, debunked a viral video suggesting the festival now revolves around Egbaliganza as “entirely false, misleading, and a distortion of historical truth.”

Raji said that the committee has emphasised that the Lisabi Festival remained a sacred annual homage to Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, the 17th-century Egba warrior who led his people to freedom from the old Oyo Empire’s dominations..

According to him, this enduring legacy that we commemorate annually is not for any commercial or fashion enterprise.

“We acknowledge Egbaliganza as a commendable innovation promoting Egba fashion and enterprise under Chief Labode’s leadership, the committee maintained that both initiatives are separate and distinct.

“Only about two hours within the week-long programme have been allocated for an Egbaliganza showcase of Egba attire, describing the slot as purely honorary and not intended to redefine or overshadow the festival’s historical focus,” Raji said.

The chairman of the Lisabi committee also added that the 39th Lisabi Festival was scheduled to hold from March 23 to 29, 2026, with the grand finale fixed for March 28 in Abeokuta.

The high Chief said that the recent promotional materials from Egbaliganza’s camp; highlighting international participation, royal presence, cultural parades and global positioning of Egba heritage; have helped fuel public perception that the fashion brand was becoming a central pillar of the celebration.

According to him, some social media users have even loosely branded the event as “Lisabi Festival (Egbaliganza),” a narrative the committee now appears determined to correct.

“The firm response comes against the backdrop of lingering debate following Egbaliganza’s high-profile debut at the 2025 Lisabi festivities.

“While many praised the colourful fashion spectacle for injecting fresh vibrancy into the annual event, some traditional stakeholders quietly expressed concern that the growing glamour could dilute the festival’s spiritual and historical essence.

“Even some committee leaders were unequivocal in their closing message: “We are celebrating our hero. We are celebrating our history. We are celebrating Lisabi.

“The statement ended with the traditional rallying cry, “Egba Agbewa Ooo,” drawing a clear line that the Lisabi Festival remains, first and foremost, a solemn commemoration of Egba liberation and identity — not a fashion runway,” he added.

Raji added that as preparations intensify ahead of the March celebration, attention across Egbaland and beyond would be fixed on whether ongoing dialogue eases the tension or whether the delicate balance between cultural heritage and high-style branding becomes the defining storyline of the 2026 festival.