By Gbenga Sodeinde
Heritagenewsng reports that Olodumare (The Creator) called Obatala (Chief of White Cloth) to Ikole Orun(the Realm of the Ancestors) on the day that he wanted to create dry land on the waters of the Ikole Aye(Earth).
Obatala kneeled before Olodumare and said that he did not know the two (mystery) of creating land on Ikole Aye(Earth). Olodumare told Obatala that he would give him the ase(power) to make land on Ikole Aye(Earth).
Ogun took all the iworo(gold) and forged a long ewon(chain), which he flung towards Ikole Aye(earth). Obatala placed his ase (power in a pouch and began the descent down the ewon(chain). When he came to the last rung he could see that he was still some distance from the primal waters.
Obatala removed the igbin(snail) shell from his pouch and sprinkled soil upon the primal waters. Then he removed the five toed etu(guinea hen) and dropped it in the land. As soon as the etu(guinea hen) reached the soil it started scratching the ground, spreading dirt across the surface of the primal waters. Seeing the ground had become firm, Obatala removed an ikin(palm nut) and dropped it on the land.
The ikin(palm nut) sprouted and became a palm tree. When the palm tree grew to its full height, it reached the last ring of the iworo ‘won(gold chain). Obatala was able to step from the ewon(chain) to the palm tree.
After climbing down the tree, Obatala started to mold humans from the clay in the earth. As he worked, he became tired and decided that he needed a rest. Taking the fruit from the palm tree, he made palm wine and drank until he was ready to return to work. The humans that he molded while drunk did not look like the others, but Obatala did not notice and he kept drinking until he fell asleep.
While Obatala slept, Olodumare gave the task of finishing Creation to Oduduwa (Owner of the Womb of Creation). Olodumare waited for Obatala to awaken from his drunken sleep and told him that it was taboo from Obatala to taste palm wine ever again. When Obatala saw what had happened to the humans he had created while he was drunk, he agreed to protect all children for future generations. It was Obatala who said that he would never again let his White Cloth become soiled.
To this day those that worship Obatala say, “Obatala o su n’na ala, Obatala o ji n’nu ala, Obatala o tinu ala dide, Iba Obatala,” which means, “The Chief of White Cloth sleeps in white, the chief of the White Cloth awakens in white, the chief of the White cloth gets up in white, praise to the Chief of the White Cloth”.
Credit: Gossip House