The Big Myth Responses

The Big Myth Responses



The Yoruba Creation Myth


This myth began in the Congo region in Africa and spread itself around the land as time passed. It begins with a world of sea and no land and creatures inhabiting it. Above the world lay the sky and the great council of the gods: the Orisha. The god Olorun ruled the sky, and below him Olokun ruled the sea. One god named Obatala suggested making dry land. He requested this in front of Olorun. The sky god agreed, and Obatala then asked the wisest of the gods - Orunmilla - for advise. He told Obatala to bring a long gold chain, a snail’s shell filled with sand, a palm nut, a white hen, and a black cat. Once Obatala got these items he hung the chain from the corner of the sky and climbed down toward the endless sea. When he reached the bottom of the chain, Obatala threw the sand from the shell on the water. Then he dropped the chicken onto the sand. The chicken pecked and scratched at the sand in a frenzy, which created mountains and valleys. Obatala threw down the palm nut which grew a thick forest of palm trees. He dropped onto the new land and decided to live there with the cat. Eventually, he became bored and decided to shape figures out of clay as he drank palm wine. Obatala became drunk and and created disfigured people which Olorun breathed life into. When Obatala finally came to his senses he realized he had created disformed creatures! He vowed never to drink wine again and created perfect people who as soon as they came alive, immediately started to make buildings and cities. Obatala became the creator of mankind and all the Orisha were pleased with his work except for Olokun who had never been told of this feat. In his anger, he created a flood which wiped out much of the people. From then on, humans realized just how powerful the sea was.


Maori Creation


In the beginning, The only thing was Te Kore: the nothing. From him came Te Pō: the night. There were many nights and the final night joined with space to create two thoughts: Rangi: god of the sky, and Papa: Goddess of the land. Together they fell in love and decided to cling to one another forever. No light or time could pass between the bond. Papa and Rangi gave birth to over a hundred children; a few of which were Tangaroa: god of the sea, Tanē: god of the forests, Tūmātauenga: god of war, Whiro: god of darkness, and Tawhirimātea: god of the winds. They were trapped between their parents with almost no room to move. The children decided to take action. All of them had an idea, but Tanē’s plan was accepted. He took two poles and placed them at his parents’ feet and heads. Then, he pushed for years until Rangi and Papa finally separated. Rangi’s blood created the sunset and Papa’s blood became the red clay. Light and time could now enter the world. Tawhirimātea was furious that his sibling did not choose his plan to separate his parents. In anger, he ripped out his eyes and threw them to the sky, creating the first two stars. Then he made storms and hurricanes. His anger never subsided. Because Rangi and Papa were separated, they both cried for their loss. Rangi’s tears became rain, and Papa’s sighs of unhappiness became mist.