Culture

Lisabi Festival 2026 Grand Finale Excites Egba People

Published

5 months ago

March 30, 2026

Lisabi Festival grand finale Abeokuta sees Egba people celebrate heritage at Ake Palace with cultural displays, fashion show, and homecoming events

The historic Ake Palace grounds in Abeokuta, Ogun State, came alive on Saturday as the Egba people marked the grand finale of the 39th Lisabi Festival in a vibrant cultural celebration on 30 March 2026.

Also read: Lisabi Festival 2026: 50 Nations Set for Grand Tribute

The Lisabi Festival grand finale Abeokuta drew large crowds of indigenes and visitors as the week long celebration paid tribute to Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, the 18th century warrior who led the Egba people to independence from the Oyo Empire.

The annual festival united all major Egba divisions, including Ake, Oke Ona, Gbagura, and Owu, under the leadership of the Alake of Egbaland, in a powerful display of cultural unity and identity.

Traditional drumming, warrior themed displays, and colourful dance parades dominated the atmosphere, as participants showcased the enduring heritage and traditions of the Egba people.

A key highlight of the Lisabi Festival grand finale Abeokuta was the “Egbaliganza” fashion showcase, led by Chief Lai Labode, which spotlighted indigenous Egba attire and the globally recognised Adire textile industry.

The fashion segment was designed to promote local craftsmanship and support homegrown fashion businesses, while reinforcing the cultural value of traditional fabrics in modern design.

The festival also served as a symbolic homecoming for Egba indigenes in the diaspora, many of whom returned to reconnect with their roots and participate in the celebrations.

Organisers described the event as both a cultural preservation initiative and an economic platform, with growing interest in how festivals like Lisabi can boost tourism and creative enterprise in Ogun State.

Also read: Okiki Films Builds Cultural Sanctuary for Nollywood Productions

The grand finale reaffirmed the Lisabi Festival as one of the most significant cultural gatherings in Yorubaland, blending history, heritage, and modern cultural expression.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”