As the annual Lisabi Festival marks its 39th edition, organisers of Egbaliganza have unveiled an ambitious programme aimed at deepening cultural expression, boosting economic activity, and positioning Egbaland on the global creative map.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Founder and Convener, Aare (Dr.) Lai Labode , Aare of Egbaland, described Egbaliganza as the creative engine driving the modern evolution of the Lisabi Festival, which honours Lisabi Agbongboakala, the legendary figure credited with uniting the Egba people.
The organisers noted that while the Lisabi Festival preserves the cultural memory of the Egba people, Egbaliganza serves as a vehicle for projecting that heritage to a global audience.
They said, “Lisabi is the root, Egbaliganza is the fruit. The root holds the memory, while the fruit carries the seed outward to new audiences and new conversations.”
According to the organisers, the 2025 edition recorded wide international engagement, with audiences from over 10 countries participating, alongside increased diaspora attendance and what they described as the highest level of economic activity ever recorded during a Lisabi Festival weekend in Abeokuta.
They attributed the growth to strategic investments in creative production, global outreach, and cultural documentation.
For the 2026 edition, Egbaliganza is set to showcase a range of activities spanning music, fashion, art, and food, with participation expected from more than 50 countries.
Among the highlights is the Egba Fashion Club, which will feature runways and hackathons focused on indigenous textiles such as Àdìrẹ and Aso-Oke, aimed at equipping young designers with skills to transform traditional crafts into viable enterprises.
The organisers also announced the unveiling of the Alake-Egbaliganza Unity Drum, to be constructed during the festival, alongside a performance by an 80-man orchestral band.
Another key feature, “Oja Egbaliganza,” will exhibit historic garments and artefacts, including ancient Egba attire, while the Gala Night themed “Flame of a Continent” will combine storytelling, performances, and ceremonial displays.
They explained that the broader vision of Egbaliganza extends beyond the festival itself, noting that the “Ganza” framework has already inspired spin-off platforms such as AfroliGanza, AdireliGanza, SportiGanza, and EkotiGanza, all aimed at promoting African cultural identity on a global scale.
The organisers further disclosed that the 2026 edition would serve as a proof of concept for the Afroliganza movement, also known as the African Global Fashion Games, with projections to attract over $2m in diaspora investment and drive long-term growth in Africa’s cultural and fashion industry.
They added that the initiative targets an expansion of the continent’s cultural economy from $30bn to $500bn through structured markets and international visibility.
In a major development, Egbaliganza confirmed that the Lisabi Festival has secured official recognition from the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, a move expected to enhance its national status and unlock new opportunities for cultural tourism in Ogun State.
The organisers emphasised that a key focus of the 2026 programme is youth empowerment, stating that the platform is designed to encourage young creatives to build sustainable careers from their cultural heritage.
“Egbaliganza is not just about celebration. It is about creating pathways for young people to see culture as a viable economic opportunity,” they said.
The Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival 2026 is scheduled to hold on March 28, 2026, in Abeokuta, as part of activities marking the 39th Lisabi Festival.
