ABEOKUTA– The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has revealed that the theme for the 2022 Lisabi Festival will be Youth Inclusiveness: An emerging Reality in Socio-Economic Development of Egbaland’
Oba Gbadebo made this known Monday, during a press conference held at his Ake palace, Abeokuta to herald the annual festival, which has brought together all sons and daughters of Egba from all over the world.
The monarch stated that the theme was carefully selected in view of the recent mad rush by the youths for illicit acquisition of wealth through various vices such as ritual killings and kidnapping and cyber crimes.
Oba Gbadebo said, “another important reason for the choice of this year’s theme is the prevalent mad rush for illicit acquisition of wealth and ostentatious living prominent among our children and youth theses days through various form of vices.
“In order to mitigate this negative trends, desecration and aberration to the richly endowed culture and norms of the land coupled with urgent need to restore human dignity and save our society from imminent collapse, a proactive measure of this magnitude is inevitable.
“We are convinced that the thematic focus this year, would translate to remarkable advancement and far reaching socio-economic development, re-orientation and redemption of our numerous youth on the verge of imminent collapse”.
He however said the composer of the Egba anthem, Rev. Josiah Ransome-Kuti who is the grandfather of the renowned late Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be honored as the hero of the festival.
The Festival is expected to take place between February 28 to March 6, 2022 at the yet to be completed amphi-theater situated inside the Ake Palace, Abeokuta
