Editing Ọbatala (section)

== Mythology ==
According to Yoruba mythology, Obatala is the oldest of all of the orishas and was granted authority to create the Earth. Due to Obatala being drunk, [[Oduduwa]] took this opportunity to show his worth to his father. He took the satchel that Olodumare had given Obatala to aid him in creation and used it to create land on the primeval ocean. Oduduwa did such a great job that Olodumare granted him the title "God of the Earth."<ref>{{Cite web |title=OBATALA - the Yoruba God of Purity (Yoruba mythology) |url=https://www.godchecker.com/yoruba-mythology/OBATALA/ |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Godchecker - Your Guide to the Gods}}</ref>

Obatala was then given the task to create human beings. With this task he took a "long gold chain, a snail's shell filled with sand, a white hen, a black cat, and a palm nut"<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Yoruba Creation |url=http://bigmyth.com/download/YORUBA_CREATION.pdf |journal=}}</ref> and climbed down to the end of the chain.

He released the white hen which spread the sand from the shell onto the ocean to create mountains and valleys. He also planted the palm nut to create a forest.

After being content with what he created, he started to mold human beings from clay. During this creative progress, he was drinking a large amount of palm wine, created from the palm nut forest, which caused him to create deformed figures in his drunken state.

When he became sober and realized what he had done, he vowed to never drink again and protect people with disabilities.

After he successfully created the human being figures, they were given [[Aṣẹ|ase]], a copper knife, and a wooden hoe. They were able to prosper.