Owner of the Sky, Olurun the Creator | Yoruban Creation Myth

Summary

This narrative tells the myth of how the Earth was formed according to ancient beliefs. It begins with Olorun, the owner of the sky, and other divine spirits living in a watery, marshy world. Olorun commands a great god to create solid land using earth in a shell and animals. The god spreads the earth, allowing life to begin. A chameleon is sent to ensure the land is stable. Olorun later brings life to human figures made from soil, while the great god, who attempts to witness this process, is put into a deep sleep by Olorun.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Earth was originally a watery, marshy place with no solid ground for humans to live on.
• 🌌 The highest being, Olorun, was the owner of the sky and lived among other spirits.
• 🕸️ Spider webs stretched from the sky, connecting the heavens to the marshy Earth below.
• 🦅 Olorun commanded the great God to create solid ground on Earth, so life could exist there.
• 🐦 The great God used a shell filled with Earth, a pigeon, and a hen to create land by spreading the Earth and having the birds scratch it.
• 🦎 Chameleon, another divine being, descended to inspect the newly formed Earth, changing its color to match the land.
• 🌳 After ensuring the Earth was dry and wide, Olorun named the first land 'Ife,' meaning 'wide place' or 'house,' from which all other land and homes originated.
• 📅 The Earth was created in four days, and on the fifth day, the great God was to be worshiped as its maker.
• 👫 Olorun sent humans down from heaven, with the great God forming their bodies from soil, but only Olorun could give them life.
• 😴 The great God attempted to witness Olorun's act of giving life but was put into a deep sleep and missed the process, leaving him responsible only for shaping bodies.

Q & A

Who is the owner of the sky in the highest?

The owner of the sky in the highest is called Oloran, the chief of the Divine ones.

What was the condition of the Earth at the beginning of the story?

In the beginning, the Earth was watery and marshy, with no solid land to stand on.

How was the firm ground created on Earth?

Great God chewed Earth out of a shell given to him by Oloran and spread it around the marshland. A pigeon and a hen were also placed on the Earth, and they scratched the soil, helping to form the solid ground.

What role did the chameleon play in the creation of the Earth?

The chameleon was sent by Oloran to inspect the ground created by Great God. He reported that it was wide but not dry enough on his first trip. After a second inspection, he confirmed the ground was both wide and dry.

What is the significance of the name 'Ife' in the story?

Oloran named the place 'Ife,' which means 'wide.' It was the first place with solid ground, and 'Ile,' meaning 'house,' was brought to stand there. Ife became the most sacred city to Oloran's people.

What happened on the fifth day of creation?

On the fifth day, Great God was to be worshipped as the maker of the Earth. He was also sent back to Ife to plant trees, feed humans when they arrived, and provide goods.

How did the first humans come to Earth in the story?

Oloran sent the first humans down from heaven to live on Earth. Great God made their bodies and heads from soil, but Oloran was responsible for bringing them to life.

Why was Great God jealous of Oloran?

Great God was jealous because he wanted to give life to the figures he had made from Earth, but that task was left to Oloran.

How did Oloran prevent Great God from learning how to give life to humans?

Oloran saw that Great God was watching him and put him into a deep sleep. When Great God woke up, all the humans had already come to life, and he never saw how it happened.

What are the marks left by Great God on humans, and what do they signify?

Great God leaves marks on the humans he creates, and these marks sometimes reflect his unhappiness or dissatisfaction with his work.