Lai Labode: Why I established cultural reset Egbaliganza
Lai Labode, founder of Egbaliganza
Lai Labode has revealed the inspiration behind ‘Egbaliganza,’ the cultural initiative celebrating the rich heritage, artistry, and fashion of the Egba people of Ogun state.
In a recent interview, Labode, who holds the chieftaincy title of Osi Apagun Pote of Egbaland, explained that Egbaliganza, meaning ‘Egba the Great’, was born from a call by the Alake of Egbaland for indigenes, both at home and abroad, to revive and modernize the cultural legacy of their homeland.
He added that Egbaliganza aims to highlight the creativity and innovation of the Egba people, while also commemorating the Lisabi Festival.
Egbaliganza, Executive team
“And for 38 years, we have celebrated the Lisabi Festival. Now, since Kabiyesi Alake came in, he started to inspire other young people, other Egbas to come back home and reenact the beauty of Egbaland,” he said.
“And be able to recreate all the not just past glories, what are the new glories that we actually have. And, of course, many of us started to respond to that call. And we felt that we needed to celebrate Lisabi because it’s a seven-day celebration of so many activities and all of that.
“We needed to show that the Egbas are truly creative and we truly are creative and, of course, we had decided to put together a team, so it’s not just Laila, but we have a team of Egbas and other professionals from everywhere who had actually come together. And then we established what is called Egbaliganza.”
Labode at this year’s Lisabi Festival, themed ‘Egbaliganza 2025’
Labode emphasized that Egbaliganza represents much more than fashion, but a fusion of cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and global recognition of African craftsmanship.
“Now, we have become the first indigenous people in Nigeria and perhaps Africa to establish a single brand for their people, one brand called Egbaliganza that has never happened before, right? And the Egbaliganza is not just fashion. People have seen the fashion side of it. That’s what we see,” he added.
The initiative took center stage at this year’s Lisabi Festival held on April 5 in Abeokuta.
Egbaliganza, executive team
The event drew high-profile attendees, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and actor Richard Mofe-Damijo.
Labode, a seasoned entrepreneur with ventures in fashion, business, and culture, recently announced plans to establish a $1 billion fashion industry to showcase Africa’s culture, particularly the cultural attire and heritage of Egbaland in Ogun State.
