The History of the Yorubas

The Yoruba creation story describes the creation of the world and humanity by the orishas (deities). It begins with a supreme god, Olodumare, who gives Obatala, the divine sculptor, a golden chain, a snail shell full of sand, a white hen, and a palm nut to create solid land from the primordial waters. After scattering the sand with the hen, land forms, and Obatala names it Ife, the "cradle of existence". He then molds the first humans from clay, and Olodumare breathes life into them by The Rev. Samuel Johnson (24 June 1846 - 29 April 1901) was an Anglican priest, diplomat, and historian of the Yoruba people, as well as the great-grandson of alaafin Abiodun, a powerful Yoruba king of the Oyo empire.