Biography

There are many different versions of myths throughout the centuries of stories told from the past. We seek to give you a mix of different versions of stories combined to give a clear, interesting, and exciting understanding of mythology

 

Obatala is the ancient Yoruba Orisha whose name translates to ”King of the White Cloth”. He is the Orisha of purity, creativity, wisdom, peace, and the vulnerable. Obatala is often depicted as a dignified elderly figure most of the time appearing as a male, but sometimes androgynous because Obatala transcends gender and age, dressed entirely in white to symbolize tranquil wisdom. Often viewed as one of the highest ranking Orisha under Olodumare or Olorun, he is considered the oldest of the Orishas, being one of the first emanations of Olodumare’s consciousness. He is the spiritual embodiment of Olodumare’s peace and reason, making him a representation of divine morality and cosmic balance. Obatala is the creator of humanity because he was tasked with shaping the earth and creating humans.

 

Other Traditions symbolizing Obatala

Obatala originates from the Yoruba tradition associated with the creation of Earth and humanity. The Yoruba traditions and their deities spread throughout the African diaspora also to other religions such as Candomble practiced in Brazil and Santeria, which is practiced in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

 

Olodumare’s Task for Obatala

Olodumare can also be referred to as Olorun.

In the beginning, there is Olodumare, the supreme being, and the formless primordial sea, no lands, no mountains and no people, only the water and the sky. Olodumare soon decided that it was time for more creation to take place, so Olodumare summoned the elder Orisha and asked who would be the one to take on this task and Obatala stepped forward. Olodumare was pleased with Obatala’s courage to step up to the task and entrusted him with the sacred materials needed for creation to take place, which were a golden chain long enough to reach down from the heavens to the waters, a snail shell filled with divine sand, a hen, a pigeon and a palm nut. Once Obatala gathered everything needed, he started to climb down the golden chain, but when he reached the end of the chain, he realized that there was nowhere to stand because there was only water. Once Obatala realized what he needed to do, he grabbed the snail shell and poured the sand into the water and set the hen and pigeon upon the sand. Then birds scratched and pecked in the sand, forming the first land patch. When Obatala saw that the surface was solid, he stepped down and this land became known as Ile-Ife, the sacred city of the Yoruba. Obatala named it Ife-Oodaye, meaning “The Place That Expanded Upon the Earth.”  He planted the palm nut and from it grew the first palm tree, which produced the first food and drink, for example, palm wine. After working so hard to create the earth, Obatala decided to sit and rest under a palm tree that was dripping with palm wine which he had not had before, so he began to drink and found it to be delicious, but he drank too much and fell asleep. Some versions of mythology state that while he slept, his brother or rival Oduduwa came down the golden chain, found him sleeping and finished creating the earth. When Obatala woke up, he was ashamed by his failure and confessed to Olodumare, who forgave him but took away his task of shaping the earth and entrusted him with shaping humanity instead. Obatala descended down the golden chain again, seeking out to complete his task. In his sober mind, he immediately began forming humans from the clay while Olodumare breathed life into them. In some versions of the myth, it states that one day Eshu, the trickster Orisha, tempted Obatala with palm wine and Obatala became drunk again while forming humans, making some of the humans misshapen, making them imperfect and when Olodumare breathed life into them, they became humans with disabilities or physical differences. Seeing what he had done, Obatala wept and vowed never to drink again and from that day, Obatala became the patron for all who are spiritually or physically different. Once the earth was completed and the humans were formed the other orishas came down to govern the new creation and established Ile-Ife as the first land upon the primordial waters.

 

Obatala Stops The Fight

Ogun, Oya and Shango are younger Orishas who came to govern the earth after creation.

Ogun is the god of iron, war and metalworking.

Yemoja is the god of the ocean, motherhood and fertility.

Shango, the god of thunder, lightning, fire, justice, dance, music and virility.

For a time, balance was stable among the Orisha and the earth, where humanity thrived, cities, shrines and farms were built. As the humans saw humans praising them, their pride started to take over, arguing over who was the most fit in the eyes of Olodumare among them. Ogun, who had cleared the first forests and forged the tools of civilization, declared that without him there would be no roads and he was the one who made human life possible, Shango declared that tools were useless without justice and power laying claim to the throne because he ruled the thunder, and Oya declared that she commands change itself and she is the wind that moves the storms and the souls of the dead. They soon clashed, leaving humanity in fear as lightning burned the forest, rivers flowed over and weapons turned against their own masters. Olodumare became aware of what had been happening on earth and sent Obatala to put an end to the destruction. As Obatala descended to the earth, the winds started to become quiet, the rivers calmed and the thunder softened. Obatala walked onto the battlefield as the Orishas were in the midst of battle and they all noticed him, but did not calm themselves until they realized that Obatala was not affected by their powers on the battlefield as he walked through to gather each of them. Once Obatala gathered the younger Orishas, he reminded them who they were and each of them held their heads down in shame. Obatala lifted his hand and sprinkled white chalk dust over them as a symbol for them to remember the coolness of the white cloth whenever their temperatures start to rise and then he sent a white dove to the heavens to let Olodumare know that the task is finished. After peace returned, the younger Orishas went their separate ways, vowing to never cause destruction again and humanity returned to building cities, farms, and honoring the gods.

Obatala’s conflict with Yemoja

Humans were not created yet.

Yemoja’s domain is the ocean.

In many myths, Yemoja is considered as the wife of Obatala as they both represent two creative forces that come together to bring forth life.

Obatala is considered the Father of all / Yemoja is considered the Mother of all.

After Obatala had finished his task from Olodumare to create the earth, Yemoja became angry that Obatala did not consider her when setting these creations upon her domain so she sent a flood to drown everything Obatala had created. Other Orishas who lived on the land ran to Obatala in fear, letting him know that Yemoja sought to reclaim the land. As Obatala watched his domain being destroyed, he realized his mistake and was ashamed. Obatala went to the highest mountain above the waters and prayed to Oludumare, repenting and pleading for Yemoja to calm down. Olodumare heard his words and sent down a divine message to let both of the Orisha know that they need each other and together they are balanced. Yemoja calmed her waves and looked to Obatala, who stood humble before her, bowing his head and pleading for her forgiveness. Yemoja’s anger turned into compassion and her waves settled, receding back into the ocean, but before she left to return to her domain, she made sure to let Obatala know that the land and all that dwells on it should never forget the sea or she will return to reclaim what is hers and Obatala nodded and agreed. Olodumare blessed them both and the earth remained between the sky and the sea. The rains from Yemoja nourished the soil, giving way for plants to grow and animals to take form. Eventually, Obatala molded humans from clay whose bodies carried both the earth of Obatala's domain and the water of Yemoja’s domain.

Research By Jameek Braggs