WHERE DO HUMANS WHERE DO HUMANS COME FROM?COME FROM?

Origin StoriesOrigin Stories Origin StoriesOrigin Stories are stories that we are stories that we

humans tell ourselves about humans tell ourselves about where our where our speciesspecies, and oftentimes , and oftentimes our cultures, originally came from!our cultures, originally came from!

The origin story told by The origin story told by BiologicalBiological AnthropologistsAnthropologists is called is called ““EvolutionEvolution,” the scientifically ,” the scientifically proven theory that living things proven theory that living things change over time and that change over time and that existing species give rise to new existing species give rise to new species.species.

Throughout human history, Throughout human history, different cultures have told different cultures have told very very differentdifferent stories about stories about where and how their people where and how their people or “the people” (often or “the people” (often referring to referring to their specifictheir specific culture) originated.culture) originated.

YORUBA CULTUREYORUBA CULTURE

WHO ARE YORUBA PEOPLE?WHO ARE YORUBA PEOPLE? There are over 10 million Yoruba-There are over 10 million Yoruba-

speaking people in Nigeria and over 10 speaking people in Nigeria and over 10 million Yoruba and Yoruba-descended million Yoruba and Yoruba-descended people who have migrated throughout people who have migrated throughout the world—aboutthe world—about25 million25 million Yoruba people in 2006. Yoruba people in 2006.

The term “Yoruba” refers to: 1) a The term “Yoruba” refers to: 1) a language; 2) an ethnicity; and 3) a language; 2) an ethnicity; and 3) a cultureculture

Millions of Yoruba slaves were captured Millions of Yoruba slaves were captured and held as slaves between 1400-1800 and held as slaves between 1400-1800 and thus have descendents throughout and thus have descendents throughout the Caribbean, South America, and North the Caribbean, South America, and North America.America.

YORUBA CREATION STORYYORUBA CREATION STORY ODUDUWAODUDUWA is the is the

legendary creator legendary creator of the Yoruba. of the Yoruba.

OLODUMAREOLODUMARE is the is the supreme deity. supreme deity.

Before there was Before there was life on earth, life on earth, Olodumare called Olodumare called OBATALAOBATALA, one of , one of 12 “arch” deities.12 “arch” deities. Bronze Statue of Ooni of Ife

in full regalia at Ife Museum

OBATALA IMAGESOBATALA IMAGES

OlodumareOlodumare decided he wanted decided he wanted to create dry land on the to create dry land on the waters of the Earth, waters of the Earth, Ile AyeIle Aye

Olodumare gave Olodumare gave ObatalaObatala asease (power) to make land: (power) to make land:

1) snail filled with earth1) snail filled with earth

2) 5-toed chicken2) 5-toed chicken

3) palm nuts 3) palm nuts

““How do I make How do I make the journey?”the journey?”

““Gather all the Gather all the gold in the sky gold in the sky and take it to and take it to OGUNOGUN.” Ogun .” Ogun forged a gold forged a gold chain to link chain to link the sky with the sky with the earth.the earth.

Then Ogun flung the Then Ogun flung the chain towards Earth chain towards Earth and Obatala began to and Obatala began to descend, BUT the descend, BUT the last rung was still far last rung was still far from waters of earth!from waters of earth!

Obatala removed the Obatala removed the snail shell from snail shell from pouch and sprinkled pouch and sprinkled earth soil on waters.earth soil on waters.

He dropped the 5-He dropped the 5-toed chicken on the toed chicken on the land, and it started land, and it started to scratch and to scratch and spread the dirt spread the dirt across the surface of across the surface of the waters.the waters.

When Obatala saw When Obatala saw firm ground, he firm ground, he dropped a palm dropped a palm nut on the land, nut on the land, which sprouted which sprouted into a palm tree. into a palm tree.

The palm tree The palm tree grew to reach the grew to reach the last rung of the last rung of the gold chain, so gold chain, so Obatala climbed Obatala climbed into the palm into the palm tree.tree.

Palm Trees in Abeokuta, NIPalm Trees in Abeokuta, NI

Then, Then, ObatalaObatala started to mold humans started to mold humans from the earth clay, but he became tired from the earth clay, but he became tired and made palm wine from the fruit of and made palm wine from the fruit of the tree and got drunk! So, he the tree and got drunk! So, he accidentally created humans with some accidentally created humans with some abnormalities—like blindness or skin abnormalities—like blindness or skin conditions. But he kept drinking until conditions. But he kept drinking until he fell asleep!he fell asleep!

OlodumareOlodumare gave the task of finishing gave the task of finishing Creation to Creation to OduduwaOduduwa, who told Obatala , who told Obatala that it was taboo to drink palm wine that it was taboo to drink palm wine again. Obatala then agreed to protect again. Obatala then agreed to protect all children and humans born with all children and humans born with physical challenges. physical challenges.

OduduwaOduduwa then went on to finish then went on to finish creating the human species! creating the human species!

Or…(another version) When Or…(another version) When ObatalaObatala woke up, he was woke up, he was embarrassed and apologetic. embarrassed and apologetic. Olodumare forgave him and then Olodumare forgave him and then gave him the responsibility of gave him the responsibility of molding the physical bodies of molding the physical bodies of human beings.human beings.

Ile-IfeIle-Ife

The Cradle of Yoruba CivilizationThe Cradle of Yoruba Civilization

Ile-Ife: A University Town in Ile-Ife: A University Town in 20062006

Obafemi Awolowo University (“UnIfe”)Obafemi Awolowo University (“UnIfe”) http://www.oauife.edu.ng/http://www.oauife.edu.ng/

Copyright ©2005 Faculty of PharmacyObafemi Awolowo University, ile-ife.

Biological AnthropologyBiological AnthropologyOrigin StoryOrigin Story

Evolution: fact, theory, Evolution: fact, theory, hypothesis = Living things hypothesis = Living things change over time, existing change over time, existing species give rise to new speciesspecies give rise to new species

Humans belong to a single Humans belong to a single species that exhibits species that exhibits considerable variation in considerable variation in behavior, size, shape, and behavior, size, shape, and appearance. appearance.

Biological AnthropologyBiological AnthropologyOrigin StoryOrigin Story

All humans belong to the species All humans belong to the species Homo sapiensHomo sapiens, a name coined by , a name coined by the 18th century naturalist, Carl the 18th century naturalist, Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus.

Homo sapiens evolved from Homo sapiens evolved from other species of genus other species of genus HomoHomo, , probably in East Africa. The probably in East Africa. The fossil evidence dates to 130,00 fossil evidence dates to 130,00 years ago in Ethiopia!years ago in Ethiopia!

Biological AnthropologyBiological AnthropologyOrigin StoryOrigin StoryFor purposes of For purposes of

classification, classification, Linnaeus placed Linnaeus placed Homo sapiensHomo sapiens with with the anatomically the anatomically similar apes, similar apes, monkeys, and monkeys, and lemurs into a group lemurs into a group that he called that he called Primates. In Primates. In modern view, the modern view, the Order PrimatesOrder Primates contains humans contains humans and their nearest and their nearest nonhuman relatives.nonhuman relatives.

Ape: Orangutan

Ring-tailed Lemurs

Snub-nosed MonkeySnub-nosed Monkey