Chapter 1
The drumbeats echoed through the village as the Egungun dancers emerged, their elaborate, multicolored costumes swirling in the evening light. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and the murmur of expectant whispers. Tonight, the spirits of the ancestors would walk among the living.
Oba, a young boy, watched in awe as the masked figures moved gracefully, their flowing robes shimmering with intricate embroidery and sacred symbols. His grandfather, Baba Ade, had told him stories of the Egungun—how they served as a bridge between the past and present, honoring those who had come before.
Chapter 2
One of the dancers, clad in red and gold, moved towards Oba. The boy’s heart pounded as he recognized the distinct stitching of his late father’s favorite cloth woven into the fabric. A shiver ran down his spine. Could it be his father’s spirit visiting? The dancer twirled, the mask’s eyes locking onto him for a moment before vanishing back into the crowd.
As the performance ended, the village elder stepped forward, declaring the ancestors were pleased. Oba smiled, feeling a newfound connection to his heritage. The spirits had spoken through the dance, and he had listened.
