The convener of Egbaliganza, a flagship cultural programme of the Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Aare, Dr. Lai Labode, has announced that at least 50 countries will be paying homage to the memories of Abeokuta legend, Lisabi and the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

Labode made this known during the unveiling of the activities scheduled for the third edition of the Egbaliganza billed for March 28, 2026.

“At least 50 countries around the world are coming to pay homage to Lisabi and Alake of Egba land. It is no small thing that the world is being invited to Abeokuta. The Egba people have always known the weight of what they carry, in their history, their craftsmanship, their language, and their identity. Egbaliganza 2026 is the moment that weight becomes a platform. Fifty nations will stand on that platform on March 28, and when they do, Abeokuta will not just be a city on a map. It will be the cultural capital of a continent finding its voice,” Labode said.

Reeling out the activities for the 2026 Egbaliganza, Labode said, “A detailed full programme for March 28, includes the Parade of Nations, a large-scale cultural convergence featuring delegations from over 50 countries, each presenting their distinct cultural identity alongside the Egba people on a shared stage. A formal charter signing will accompany the parade, establishing long-term commitments between participating nations and the Egbaliganza platform across culture, tourism, and creative enterprise. Further programme highlights include the Walk of Heroes and Walk of Kings, honouring legacy and leadership within Egba society and across participating cultures; the Egba Fashion Club Runways and Hackathons, which place indigenous textiles including Àdìre and Aso-Oke at the intersection of tradition, technology, and modern enterprise; the unveiling of the Alake-Egbaliganza Drum also called the Unity Drum to be built by a son of Egbaland for Egbaland during the festival. There will be performance by the Egbaliganza 80-man orchestral band as well as the “Oja Egbaliganza” showcase, which will present historic Egba garments and cultural artefacts spanning centuries, including ancient attire estimated between 3,000 and 4,000 years old. The programme will close with the Gala Night, Flame of a Continent, a curated evening of performance, ceremonial presentations, and cultural storytelling, and the formal Lisabi Day Celebration honouring Egba ancestors and heritage custodians as the 39th Lisabi Festival is marked.”

At the event, Labode and his team also confirmed the successful securing of official Federal Government recognition for the ‘Lisabi Festival’ through the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, a development that strengthens the festival’s national cultural status and opens new doors for institutional support and cultural tourism across Ogun State and beyond.

Labode also revealed the 2026 central theme as the role of culture as a direct driver of economic development at the grassroots, national, and continental level.

Also at the event was Mrs Lai Labode, and Emmanuella Ropo. (The Nation)