Long ago, in the ancient land of Ogbomoso, from the noble family of Ile Lembe in Ode-Aremo, there lived a masquerade unlike any other. His name was Egungun Lembe—the people called him Lembe L’eri, Egun Eleru. Lembe was not just a masquerade of dance and festivity. He was Egun ojo ogun—a warrior spirit, tied to royalty itself. Among the elders, it was often said with pride: “Egun Oba ni Lembe, Egun Kabiyesi ni.” His presence was never oppressive but always protective. He was no tyrant—Ki n se ika—but rather a guardian, an avenger of the weak, a defender of children, and a spirit who stood boldly against injustice. The Miracle of the River History remembers a fateful day, during the fiery days of the Sango War. The people needed to perform a sacred ritual, but calamity struck—the river had flooded its banks, swallowing the bridge and drowning the path. No one could pass. Fear gripped the community; without the ritual, disaster loomed. It was then that Egungun Lembe stepped forward. He faced the roaring waters, spoke to the raging river—sọrọ pẹlu odò naa—and the impossible happened. The waters obeyed. They split apart, leaving dry ground for the people to cross. That day, Lembe was no longer known only as a warrior. He was remembered as the spirit who held authority over even the forces of nature. The Sacred Attire The attire of Lembe has always been shrouded in mystery and reverence. Aṣọ rẹ kò yipada rara. From generation to generation, it has remained unchanged—each fabric, each ornament holding deep symbolic meaning. His clothing is not merely costume, but a living legacy, passed down as sacred heritage. The Oríkì of Power There was also a great gathering, long ago, when many masquerades came together. Suddenly, a quarrel broke out, and in the chaos, one masquerade was struck down, lifeless upon the ground. When Lembe arrived, silence fell. He bent over the fallen figure and, with nothing more than a touch on the shoulder, breathed strength back into him. The masquerade rose instantly—ó dìde lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀. From that moment, Lembe’s oríkì was born. His praise-name became a testimony of his power: the one who restores, the one who liberates, the one who gives strength when all hope is lost. The Silence Since 1947 Egungun Lembe was once celebrated every year. His steps thundered through Ogbomoso, his presence bringing both awe and reassurance. But after his last appearance in 1947, silence fell. The custodian of his secrets passed on, and because Lembe was egun eleru—a masquerade whose weight not all could bear—he has not been seen again. And so, though unseen for generations, the story of Egungun Lembe endures. He remains the spirit of strength, justice, and divine authority—an ancestral guardian of Ogbomoso whose name still echoes in song, in oríkì, and in the hearts of the people. For Lembe is not forgotten. He is the warrior who speaks to rivers, the liberator who restores the fallen, the kingly masquerade whose legacy time cannot erase.