Abeokuta, meaning “under the rock”, was founded around 1830 under the leadership of Sodeke. The Egba migrated there after fleeing wars and slave raids following the decline of the Oyo Empire.

The Egba trace their origins to one of the early children of Oduduwa, the revered progenitor of the Yoruba people. Within Yoruba oral tradition, the Egba are counted among the foundational branches of the Yoruba lineage, while the Oyo trace their ancestry to the youngest child of Oduduwa. This shared ancestry places the Egba firmly within the spiritual and cultural heart of Yorubaland, forming the roots from which their identity and early settlements grew.

Over the centuries, Egba people evolved into a people known for resilience, courage, and an enduring pursuit of freedom. Although they lived within the powerful Oyo Empire and served among the elite Eso Ikoyi warriors, the Egba also endured periods of heavy taxation and political pressure from Oyo’s officials. Their turning point came under the leadership of Lisabi of Itoku, who, between 1775 and 1780, led a coordinated revolt that freed the Egba from Oyo domination and laid the foundations of their self-governance.

Independence brought new challenges. The turbulence of the nineteenth century and rising conflicts across Yorubaland forced many Egba to flee oppressive rule in Ibadan. Guided by the Balogun, Lamodi, and later by Sodeke, Egba groups journeyed southwards in search of safety. Their scouts discovered a rocky landscape dotted with natural caves, a place that hunters already used as shelter. This refuge became Abeokuta, meaning “the city under the rock.”

Settling at the foot of the towering granite outcrop known as Olumo Rock, the Egba found both protection and a spiritual anchor. Rising 137 metres, Olumo served as a natural fortress during wars, a lookout point for approaching enemies, and a sacred site symbolising divine provision. The early community grew around Oko Adagba, the farmland of Adagba, an Itoko hunter who offered his land to the arriving refugees. Over time, Abeokuta became home to four major Egba divisions: Ake, Oke-Ona, Gbagura, and, later, the Owu.

Though conflict continued, including the wars that devastated many Egba towns in the early nineteenth century, the Egba endured. Their history carries the memory of struggle, migration, and unity, but also the triumph of a people who built a thriving homeland beneath a rock that became both shield and symbol.

Today, Olumo Rock stands not only as a landmark but as a living reminder of the Egba people’s strength, identity, and unbreakable spirit.