Olorun

Nationality/Culture

West African/Yoruba

Pronunciation

oh-loh-RUN

Alternate Names

Olofin-Orun, Oba-Orun, Olodumare

Appears In

Yoruba creation myths

Lineage

None

Character Overview

In the mythology of the Yoruba people of West Africa, Olorun is the most powerful and wisest god. The all-knowing Olorun takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Head of the Yoruba pantheon (or collection of recognized gods), Olorun is also known as Olofin-Orun (Lord of Heaven), Oba-Orun (King of the Sky), and Olodumare (Almighty).

Major Myths

According to Yoruba legend, Olorun was one of two original creator gods; the other was the goddess Olokun. In the beginning, the universe consisted only of sky and a formless expanse of marshy water. Olorun ruled the sky, while Olokun ruled the vast marshy waters below. There were thousands of other gods, but none had as much knowledge or power as Olorun.

Although Olokun was content with her watery kingdom, a lesser god named Obatala had ideas about improving her kingdom. He went to Olorun and suggested the creation of solid land, with fields and forests, hills and valleys, and various living things to populate it. Olorun agreed that this would be good and gave Obatala permission to create land.

Obatala went to Orunmila, the eldest son of Olorun, and asked how he should proceed. Orunmila told Obatala to gather gold to make a chain that could be lowered from the sky to the waters below. When the chain was finished, Orunmila gave Obatala a snail's shell filled with sand, a white hen, a black cat, and a palm nut. Obatala lowered himself on the chain and poured the sand on the waters. He then released the hen, which scratched at the sand and scattered it in all directions. Every place the sand fell became dry land. Stepping onto the land—known as Ife— Obatala built a house, grew palm trees from the palm nut, and lived with the black cat as his companion.

Obatala later became lonely and built clay figures. Olorun turned these figures into humans by breathing life into them. Many gods descended from the sky to live on earth, and Olorun told them to listen to the prayers of humans and protect them.

Not pleased by these acts of creation, the water goddess Olokun tried to flood the land to regain the area she had lost. However, Orunmila used his powers to make the waters recede. Angry that the sky god's son had defeated her, Olokun challenged Olorun to a weaving contest to see who was the more powerful. Olokun was a weaver of unequaled skill and knowledge, but every time she made a beautiful cloth, Agemo, the chameleon who carried messages for Olorun, changed the color of its skin to match her weaving. When Olokun saw that even Olorun's messenger could duplicate her finest cloths, she accepted defeat and acknowledged Olorun as the supreme god.

Olorun in Context

For the Yoruba people, the ultimate goal of life is to live in a way that connects one to Olorun and the energy of the world. Becoming one with Olorun leads to a place in the spiritual realm after death. This involves doing things that are helpful for others and the world, and always trying to improve oneself. In this way, Olorun has a profound effect on how all Yoruba people live from day to day.

Key Themes and Symbols

Olorun represents original creation and the father of all the earth. He is closely associated with all things white, including bones, clouds, and— according to Yoruba belief—brains. He is not usually viewed as having a specific physical form.

Olorun in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life

Although he is one of the most important gods in Yoruban mythology, Olorun is not often depicted in human form, and, unlike other figures in the Yoruban pantheon, he is not the focus of an annual celebration. Perhaps because of this, Olorun is not well-known outside the Yoruba culture. However, since many elements of Yoruban culture were brought to the New World during the slave trade, some tales of Olorun have made their way throughout the Caribbean, the southern United States, and South America. Perhaps the most famous mention of Olorun occurs in the 1990 song “Rhythm of the Saints” by Paul Simon, though his variant name Olodumare is used.

Read, Write, Think, Discuss

Many creation myths from around the world include humans originally being crafted from clay, as in the myth of Obatala and Olorun. Why do you think this theme is found in so many different cultures? Do you think the practice of burying the dead supports this notion of humans originally arising from clay? Why or why not?

SEE ALSO African Mythology; Ile-Ife