By Dr. Chizoba Imoka-Ubochioma, Director, Unveiling Africa & Consulting for the Research Team at Mastercard Foundation
Months had passed, Obatala was proud of all he had achieved but, he began to feel lonely and bored. He decided to make beings like himself to keep him company. He dug the soil and made man from clay and set them aside for Eledumare to breathe life into them. He worked so hard that he became tired and thirsty. He then went and drank palm wine from the trees, unknown to him, he got drunk and molded human beings that were not so perfect and had disabilities.
According to Yoruba myth, In the beginning, there was only the sky above, water and wild marshland below. The sky was ruled by the supreme god Eledumare, while below was ruled by the goddess Olokun. Obatala, the creator god, believed that the world could be more. He then went to Eledumare (the supreme god) for permission to create dry land for all kinds of living creatures to inhabit. His request was granted. He also sought the advice of Orunmila, the oldest son of Eledumare and the god of prophecy, knowledge, and wisdom. Orunmila advised Obatala on how to go about his quest and all the things he needed.
Orunmila told Obatala that to reach down from the sky he will need a long gold chain, a snail’s shell filled with sand, a white hen, a black cat, and a palm nut. As advised by Orunmila, Obatala went in search of the gold he needed for the chain. The other god all contributed the gold needed for the chain. When the chain was completed, Orunmila accompanied Obatala to where the gold chain was anchored from the heavens to reach the earth where there was just water. Orunmila then gave Obatala the sand-filled snail’s shell, the white hen, the black cat, and the palm nut. One by one, Obatala put them into a bag, which he slung over his shoulder. Then he said farewell to Orunmila and began to climb down the golden chain to begin his quest.
As early instructed by Orunmila, he poured the sand from the snail shell into the mist below and released the white hen immediately. The hen landed on the sand and began scratching and spreading the sand with it’s beak to form the first solid portion of land on the earth. When Obatala landed on the newly formed land, he named it “Ife”. The land had spread to all the corners of the earth and also formed hills and valleys. He then planted the palm nut which grew into a mature palm tree. The mature tree dropped its nuts upon the land, and they also quickly grew to maturity forming Vegetation. He later kept the black cat for company.
Months had passed, Obatala was proud of all he had achieved but, he began to feel lonely and bored. He decided to make beings like himself to keep him company. He dug the soil and made man from clay and set them aside for Eledumare to breathe life into them. He worked so hard that he became tired and thirsty. He then went and drank palm wine from the trees, unknown to him, he got drunk and molded human beings that were not so perfect and had disabilities.
After a while, he called out to Eledumare and said “Hear me, Eledumare, you who are like a father to me. I have created figures out of clay, but only you can breathe life into them and make them into living people. I ask you to do this for me so that I can have human companions in Ife.” And it came to be that Eledumare breathed life into the figures Obatala had created, and they came to life. They noticed Obatala’s house and made houses for themselves and placed them nearby. Thus they created the first Yoruba village in Ife where there had been only one solitary house.
Obatala realized that some of the people were deformed as a result of his drunkness. He vowed never to drink again and to be a protector of the disabled. Today, he is regarded as the patron deity of people with disabilities. The people prospered, and the Yoruba village of Ife grew into a city.
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