In the ancient land of Ogbomoso, there walks — or rather, dances — a spirit as old as three and a half centuries. His name is Danofojura, the great masquerade of Ile Alakasu, feared in battle yet gentle in heart. Danofojura was not born of mere entertainment. Egun oju ogun ni — a war masquerade, brought back from battle not for show, but for destiny. In the days of the forefathers, whenever he emerged for war, ko si ogun ti won ko segun — there was no battle they did not conquer. Till this very day, his presence still heralds victory. Yet, in the heart of the village, Danofojura is no troublemaker. Egun olomo ni — a lover of children, egun abaní wa àlàáfíà — a bringer of peace. He does not fight, he does not insult. He simply is, and in being, he heals. A Masquerade of Wonders They call him Egun Alánù — the merciful one — for he has a gift that blurs the line between the living and the dead. Should someone faint, or stand on the brink of death, and be brought before Danofojura, with his sacred cloth rubbed upon their body, eni na a ji — the person will rise again. And yet, he is not like the other masquerades who roam the streets yearly. No, Danofojura is rare. He only appears once in three years, and when he does, even the wind knows. Ti igbona ba fe jade larin ilu, ti Danofojura ba jade, igbona na a fo lo — if tension rises in the land, his coming quenches it. Before he emerges, there is dew upon the ground — ìròyìn tí àìmọ̀ fi ń kéde bí ọba ṣe ń bò — the silent announcement of royalty’s approach. He bathes in secret potions, rubs his body with sacred concoctions, and carries the weight of centuries-old cloth upon his frame. That cloth, worn since his inception, must never be discarded; it is joined with new fabrics over the years, but its ancient threads remain. Rules of His Path When Danofojura comes out, there must be no fire burning along his route. Ti won nba dana, won gbodo pa ina na — any cooking fire must be put out. For if his hand touches that fire, aro yen o ni ru mo, the food in that pot will turn black. If there is a sick person in any house along his path, they must be brought outside before he passes. If not, the sick one will not live to see the next day. Even on his return, the same must be done — ki eniyan na jade ki Danofojura le koja, then they may be taken back inside.   The King’s Masquerade Danofojura is not for everyone. He performs only for the king, blessing him and the land. He is called Egun Oba — the king’s masquerade — hence the praise name: Oba Dimeji, a bi mo gbagada — a king twice over, born with a warrior’s swagger. Only a son of the Ile Alakasu lineage can carry him, and not just any son — Ifa must choose him through divination. And so the secret remains, ko si gbogbo asiri ti won ma so fun ore, not all truths are for outsiders. When the festival comes, ara ilu ma pe ara won — the people are drawn to him without being called. They come from far and wide, drawn by an unseen hand. This is the way of Danofojura. Three centuries and more have passed, yet his dance is the same. His cloth carries the scent of war and the breath of peace. His feet touch the earth with power, his name drifts on the wind: Danofojura — Oba Dimeji, a bi mo gbagada.