MYTHICAL CREATION OF THE YORUBA TRIBE

The Yoruba tribe were believed to have emerged from Oduduwa (one of the servants of Olodumare- the Supreme Being) who was sent down to the world to create the earth. It was believed that he descended with a long chain from heaven and carried a calabash full of sand and also brought a five- toed fowl along with him. The whole earth was covered with water, not a single dry place could be found, then he (Oduduwa) poured the sand on the water and placed the fowl on it, and the fowl started to sprinkle the sand with its legs. Everywhere the sand touched turned into a solid ground and the chameleon was sent to judge if it was dry and solid enough. The other places that were not touched by the sand remained as water till today. Then, Olodumare sent Obatala (god of divination) to create and mould human beings the way it pleases him and he (Olodumare) would put life into them and would also design their various destinies.

According to some accounts, it was Obatala that Olodumare sent to create the earth, but on his way, he joined a group of gods feasting and he drank wine till he was drunk then fell asleep. Oduduwa then carried the calabash and the fowl beside him and carry out the mission that was meant for Obatala. When Obatala woke up, he discovered Oduduwa had created the earth and he became furious, but Olodumare calmed him with another mission of creating human beings.
It was also believed that Oduduwa had a son named Okanbi also called Idekoseroake, and Okanbi also begat seven children who can now be referred to as the fathers of the seven main Yoruba tribes, as follows ( Owu, Alaketu, Benin, Orangun, Onisabe, Olupopo and Oranyan).

The Yoruba people, who can be found in the Southwestern part of Nigeria, believe so much in the traditional accounts of their creation.