ABOUT US
Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Egba Descendants Association is a non-profit organization that connects the Egba people, a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria. Most of our members proudly hail from Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ifo, Ewekoro, Obafemi Owode and Odeda local governments of western Nigeria’s Ogun State.
For the Egba people in Manitoba, our motherland holds strong roots, culture, heritage and historical antecedents, which will forever be kept in our hearts’ archives.
Our association empowers members to live peacefully, respectfully and industriously on the shores of Canada while promoting engagement in contacts with others and building strong, diverse communities. For us, it is essential to promote and preserve the Egba culture as an integral part of the diverse cultural nature of Canada.
A Brief History of Abeokuta
Founded in 1830, Abeokuta was originally derived from the protection sought by fleeing settlers under the Olumo Rock. Hence, Abeokuta means ‘the refugees under a rock,’ signifying the Olumo Rock’s protection from possible attacks. The most significant of these series of internecine wars was the one that broke out as a result of an incident at Apomu Market, now in the Irewolede Local Government area of Osun State.
In 1821, an argument that ensued between an Owu man who sold alligator peppers to an Ijebu woman turned into a fracas between the Owu and Ijebu clans. The war eventually led to combined attacks of the Ife-Ijebu-Oyo coalition that forced the Owu homeland to fall after a long siege. The events following this catastrophe gave birth to the founding of Abeokuta a few years after.
Notable Egba Personalities
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola – Businessman and politician
Chief Fatai Ajani Areago – Industrialist, businessman and politics
Olusegun Obasanjo – President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007
Chief Ebenezer Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi – Musician and evangelist
Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti – Musician and activist
Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti – Human rights activist
Reverend Oludotun Israel Ransome-Kuti – Clergyman, teacher and principal (April 30, 1891–April 6, 1955)
Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti – Pediatrician, activist, and health minister (30 December 1927 – 1 June 2003)
Ernest Shonekan – Interim President of Nigeria, 26 August 1993 – 17 November 1993
Wole Soyinka – Author, activist and Nobel laureate
F. R. A. Williams – Lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Tunde Bakare – Lawyer, renowned pastor
Tunde Kelani – Cinematographer
Segun Odegbami – Retired footballer
Dimeji Bankole – Former Speaker, Nigeria’s House of Representatives
Bukola Elemide ‘ASA’ – Singer
Olu Jacobs – Actor
Sir Shina Peters – Musician
Bola Ajibola – Retired world court judge
JF Odunjo – Yoruba literary icon, writer of the popular Alawiye series
Bolu Akin-Olugbade – Billionaire businessman
John Fashanu – Retired footballer
Dipo Shodipo – First one-man band in Nigeria
Femi Kuti – Musician
Seun Kuti – Musician and activist
Clarence Peters – Cinematographer and Music video titan
Abioye-Sanusi Shinaayomi – Filmmaker and music video producer
