Egungun Isonu — The Masquerade of Joy and Testimony
In the ancient town of Ogbomoso, where every family carries a tale and every masquerade a mystery, there lives a spirit wrapped in cloth and legend. Its true name is Amuludun — the one who brings joy and laughter. Yet, among the people, it is remembered and revered by another name: Egungun Isonu.
The story of that name began with a boy. Long ago, when this masquerade first appeared, it was not borne by an elder or a seasoned man, but by the smallest of hands — an omo kekere who paraded it through the streets. The sight puzzled the town. Some scoffed, whispering, “Iru omo isonu wo re, lo di oruko ti o se yipada yii?” — “What manner of wayward child is this, carrying such a sacred mask?” From those whispers, the name stuck: Egungun Isonu. Yet, beneath the name lay the truth: it was Amuludun, the spirit of delight.
But the power of this masquerade runs deeper than laughter. Its roots spring from a man’s sorrow, his long wait, and heaven’s final answer. The father of its lineage carried a silent pain — he had no child. The years passed, the mocking tongues grew sharper, and hope seemed buried. Yet at seventy-four, when life itself had almost folded, grace broke through. A child was born, and from that miracle, Amuludun drew its enduring strength — a living symbol of hope restored, of prayers answered when all seemed lost.
To this day, the masquerade steps out once a year, and sometimes once a month, robed always in new garments — for its cloth never repeats. With every appearance, it does not merely dance; it proclaims. The people believe one thing with certainty: every prayer carried through Amuludun finds an answer.
Thus, when Egungun Isonu appears, it is more than mask and fabric. It is a vessel of joy, a keeper of testimony, and a reminder that no waiting is ever wasted, and no prayer goes unheard.
