Myth in the World
Myth in the World
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1. Group Statement and its “Other”
I am an African American from Texas, southern America. My grandfather told me stories about our native origin and where we came from before they were brought as slaves to America. I was told that we came from West Africa, and that we came from the Yoruba people. The creation myth of the Yoruba states that Olodumare (the Yoruba High God), in the beginning, had a son. Olodumare had no form; He could choose to take any bodily form. The “other” of our group is Orisha-Nla, who opposed Olodumare, the High God. He keeps making the bodies of men, but cannot put life into them. He still leaves marks on new people as a sign of displeasure, which is why some are born marked (Trieber 115).
2. My group’s Origin Myth
According to Trieber (115) Olodumare summoned Orisha-Nla, the chief of the lesser gods, and told him to spread earth so that people could have a place to live. Olodumare gave Orisha-Nla a shell of a snail that had earth in it, and he was given a pigeon and a hen that had five toes. Olodumare changed his form and became a spider, and he made a web that stretched from the sky to the world, and Orisha-Nla used this web as the bridge to go to the earth. He was accompanied by the lesser gods of storm, thunder and iron. The three gods announced Orisha-Nla’s coming. The Sacred Drummer led the way as they came into the world.
The earth was a watery waste, and the three lesser gods accompanying Orisha-Nla and the Sacred Drummer bowed in silence. Orisha-Nla threw the earth from the snail shell and afterwards put the pigeon and hen with five toes on the earth he had poured. They started scratching the earth and it spread all about, forming the solid ground. Orisha-Nla reported to Olodumare that the work was done, and the chameleon was sent to confirm. The earth was not yet dried up and firm, and so Orisha-Nla, the three lesser gods of storm, thunder and iron, together with the Sacred Drummer went back and only came back after it was dried up. Chameleon was sent again to confirm and reported that it was firm enough. Olodumare was pleased, and commanded that the fifth day be a day of worship and rest (Trieber 116).
3. “Others” of My Group
Orisha-Nla was ordered to go back and plant trees, and he did as told and Olodumare was pleased. Olodumare told Orisha-Nla to mould humans from the earth, he did so, but they had no life. Olodumareordered Orisha-Nla to leave so that he could breathe life into the molded humans. Orisha-Nla was envious of the work and he never left from the earth. Olodumare knew of this and he made Orisha-Nla to fall into deep sleep, and as he slept, Olodumare breathed life into the molded beings, giving them life. Orisha-Nla woke up and saw humans had been given the breath of life, he although had no idea how it was done. Orisha-Nla was agitated and got angry, therefore became Olodumare’s and human’s enemy. Man and woman were created, and they continued the life to this day (Trieber 117). Olodumare gave humans land and the man was contented. The woman was however not contented, and she came to Olodumare to demand more than what she was given. Olodumare denied her, and she hit him with a hoe handle, Olodumare was displeased and he went away, never to dwell with humans again (Trieber 118). The lesser gods were the ones who helped the humans to build village.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, the myth story of creation recognizes Olodumare as the Almighty God. He had Orisha-Nla as his messenger, who had other gods under him. Orisha-Nla was commanded to create the world and humans, and Olodumare breathed life into the molded humans. Orisha-Nla never knew how this was done, and he is frustrated even to date, Olodumare was angered by the woman and he went away from the earth, leaving other gods to help humans.
References
Trieber, Marshall J. “Creation: An African Yoruba Myth: An Adaptation.” CLA Journal.Vol. 18(1). September, 1974. Pp 114-118. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44329111
