Daily Myth for June 19
Posted by
znufrii
Jun 19 '24, 08:21
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In the region of West Africa, among the Yoruba people, there is a profound story about the creation of the earth. In the beginning, there was only sky above and water below. The supreme god Olodumare decided that it was time to create land. He gave the task to his divine subordinate, Obatala, along with a golden chain, a snail shell filled with sand, a white hen, a black cat, and a palm nut.
Obatala descended down the chain from the sky to the waters below. When he reached the end of the chain, he poured the sand from the snail shell onto the waters. Then he released the white hen, which began to scratch at the sand, spreading it out to create the first dry land. This land became known as Ile-Ife, the sacred city.
Feeling accomplished, Obatala decided to rest and created a shelter for himself with the palm nut, which he planted, and it grew into a towering tree. However, before he could complete his work, Obatala grew tired and decided to have a drink. Unfortunately, he was unaware that the drink was palm wine, which intoxicated him. In his state of inebriation, he began to shape the first human beings, but their forms were imperfect.
When Olodumare saw the flawed creation, he assigned Orunmila, the god of wisdom and divination, to finish the work that Obatala had begun. Orunmila created new humans with care and precision, bestowing them with their destinies. Yet, Olodumare declared that the imperfect humans created by Obatala should not be destroyed. Instead, they were given a special place among humanity, showing that all people, regardless of their differences, have their place in the universe.
Later, when Obatala awoke and saw what he had done, he vowed to never drink palm wine again and became the god of purity, gold, and wisdom, watching over those who were born differently and ensuring they received special care and protection.
This myth serves as a reminder of the value of all individuals, the potential for redemption, and the importance of responsible creation.
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