AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF LISABI FESTIVAL AMONG THE EGBA PEOPLE OF ABEOKUTA, IN THE POST-COLONIAL PERIOD, 1960-2023

Lisabi festival showed that cultural exportation has become a form of power for economic and social growth among Egbas of Yorubaland just as it is across the world. The festival showed that the people are increasingly modernising their heritage, curating it for tourism and global curiosity, without erasing its core values. The study showed that the Egbas understand that the best way to preserve culture is to open it up and make it accessible, not by gatekeeping, but by thoughtful adaptation. They have also learnt to export their culture through movies like the Lisabi movie for people to understand their history. Lisabi festival has also been a display of fashion and style not just for the fun of it but as part of a well-thought out journey of bringing back the regular clothes of the old Egbas warriors, chiefs and highly influential individuals to showcase a part of the unique beauty of Egbaland culture. All the attires usually on display were curated from the archive of the Egba tradition. All these affirm the uniqueness of Lisabi Festival in its own way, and with its unique target audiences which is not just the Egbas but the world at large. With the way the festival has received sponsorship in the past from Globacom Telecommunication, MTN, Eagles Aromatic Schnapps and many other sponsors, it has draws thousands of attendees, including non-indigenes and public figures that are not from the Egba tribe or resident in Ogun State. The study also concludes that although Lisabi festival remains rooted in tradition, it is now also many things: a fashion exhibition, a family reunion, and a statement of cultural pride. It is a place where heritage meets modernity, embodying both the continuity and reinvention of Yoruba traditions. The festival also showcased the beauty of adire and aso òkè, Indigenous textiles of the Egba people, celebrated for their rich history and intricate designs. Local designers played a significant role by presenting these fabrics innovatively, demonstrating their versatility and potential in the global fashion scene. This forward-thinking blend of past and present made the festival’s fashion segment a key highlight for locals and international guests. The festival is now a powerful reminder of the value of preserving indigenous textiles as parts of cultural symbols and economically viable products in the fashion industry. The researcher therefore makes a final submission that many Nigerian tribes hosting different traditional and cultural festivals needs to learn and adopt some of the things that are done by the Egbas to showcase their cultural heritage to the entire world through Lisabi festival. It is in this way that cultural festivals can contribute to economic diversification and profitability by increasing employment, improving basic services, and increasing socio-economic opportunities for the host communities which can also improve quality of life. Lisabi festival is an indication that the time has come when community events and festivals can attract local, national and international tourists and visitors. They are also avenues which can help to capture attention and promote attractions and infrastructures within a locality like the use of the M.K.O Abiola stadium for Lisabi festival. The maximization of these spaces and their preservation could result in financial benefits and dissemination of artistic and cultural heritages. Events and festivals play a role in putting a region on the map and distinguishing their basket of attractions from other similar regions as is seen in Lisabi festival in a way that it also increased community pride and enhanced the identity of the people. The study showed that the more involved local people and suppliers are in terms of provision of services, food, beverages, and attractions, the greater the economic benefits to the region. Local vendors, artisans, crafts people, restaurateurs, hoteliers also make a large portion of their annual income during the course of the festival. On a final note, the researcher implores the organizers of Lisabi festival to do more by sustaining the partnerships that they had build with partners, investors and private and public corporations so that they would keep supporting the festival yearly. This can be achieved when they do not stray off from the original reasons that brought about the festival and what it is meant to achieve. Organizers should also think about all the potential benefits the festival is meant to achieve for the transformation of the lives of Egba people and they should consider it as an investment in the sustainability of the Egba cultural history and civilization that must be passed to future generations.