Oxalá is an Orixa said to have been created in order to create the world, making him the most important of the Orixás. He is sometimes called the father of mankind. He is usually depicted as a frail old man with an elaborate scepter that he uses as a walking stick.
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Oxalá is associated with pure, clean, fresh water and is also linked through marriage with both Nana and Iemanja, also Orixás linked with water. He is the Orixá of creation, procreation, purification, and peace.
- Symbol of Oxalá: white dove
- Oxalá’s colors: white and sky blue
- Offerings: white flowers, white hominy, yams, pears, and white grapes
- Oxalá’s day of the week: Friday.
- Oxala’s Day of the year: December 25th
- Syncretism: Oir Lord of Bonfim and Jesus Christ
- Oxalá greeting: Epa Epa Baba
- Song for Oxalá: Oxalá criou a Terra, Oxalá criou o mar, Oxalá criou o mundo onde reinam os Orixás (Oxalá created the Earth, Oxalá created the sea, Oxalá created the world where the Orixás reign).
Oxala the Creator
In Canbomble, Oxalá is the first son of Olorun, the oldest Orixá. In the older Yoruba religion from Africa, the same Orixa is called Obatala. Among all the Orixás, he is the most powerful, so Oxalá was given the mission of creating the universe. Olorun entrusted him with the tools to create the world and told him the ritual to conduct to complete the work.
As Oxala descended to do his work, he had to pass through the gateway to the world, which was kept by Exu. Being quite arrogant, Oxala did not make the normal offerings to pass. This angered Exu, who cast a spell on Oxala to make him incredibly thirsty. As a result, Oxala opened a palm tree to find something to quench his thirst and drank deeply from the red liquid that spilled out. This turned out to be palm wine, so he got very drunk and fell asleep.
While he was sleeping, his brother and greatest rival in the Yoruba pantheon, Oduduá, passed by him and stole the tools of creation. He took them to his father Olorun, who found out what happened to Oxalá and was angry. Olorun permitted Oduduá to create the world and made him king of Ifé, the first city in the world.
When he woke up, Oxalá went to talk to Olorun, and was punished by never being able to drink palm wine or use palm oil again. But the father, touched by Oxalá’s frustration, allowed him to create human beings from clay. That was when Oxalá asked for help from Yabá Nanã Buruque to carry out the task and from Olorun to breathe life into the form.
Naturally, this led to a long feud between Oxala and Exu.
Sons of Oxala
Every person is believed to have one of the orixas as a patron deity, and they are called the sons or daughters of that deity.
The sons of Oxalá often have a fragile constitution and may be marked by birth defects. They tend to be delicate and easily affected by their surroundings.
They are known for their tranquility, morality, and perfectionism, but can also be cold in their relationships with others. While they are not aggressive, they never forgive offenses and will cut people out of their lives when they transgress.
Oxalá always wears white clothes, as do his children, and his day of the week is Friday. He is greeted with the words Eba Baba.
Guises of Oxala
Many deities in Candomble have a variety of guises that represent different aspects.
Oxala Oxalufan
He is the oldest Oxalá, responsible for creating human beings, and his temple is Ifon. He is bent over because of time, the years weigh on his body. He is slow like an elderly person in pain. He is supported by a white metal rod with an image of a bird, called an Opaxorô, and represents tranquility, peace, wisdom, and patience.
Oxala Oxaguian
Oxaguian is the son of Oxalufã, a young, strong, warrior Orixá. His main temple is Ejigbo. He carries a shield and sword. He is responsible for encouraging his children in their daily struggles so that they can overcome them. He is dynamic and always in motion and governs innovation.
Story of Father and Sons
One day Oxalufan, who lived with his son Oxaguian, decided to travel to Oió to visit Xangô, his other son. He consulted a soothsayer before he went, who told him not to go, but he wanted to go anyway. That being the case, the soothsayer advised him to carry with him three white clothes and sea soap, as well as to accept and do everything asked of him on the way and not complain about anything, whatever happened. Only in this way would he not lose his life.
On his walk, Oxalufan met his enemy Exu three times who insisted that Oxalufan carry his burden for him, which the older Orixa did. Exu made sure that every time, Oxalufan became dirty with salt, palm oil, and charcoal. Oxalufan did all without complaining, but as he cleaned up, washed all the color out of his clothes, leaving them white.
When Oxalufan reached the entrance to the city, he saw a lost horse, which he recognized as the horse he had given to Xangô. He tried to tame the animal to tie it up and return it to his son. But at this moment, some of the Xangô’s subjects arrived and believed that he was trying to steal the animal. They beat and arrested him, but Oxalufan did not complain.
Because an innocent man was in prison, Oió experienced the deepest drought for seven years. Women became sterile and many diseases ravaged the kingdom. Xangô, desperate, sought out a soothsayer and discovered that an old man was suffering unfairly as a prisoner, paying for a crime he had not committed.
Xangô ran to prison. To his astonishment, the old prisoner was his father Oxalufan. Xangô ordered water to be brought for him to drink and bathe. He then ordered all his subjects to dress in white, and for everyone to remain silent, to respectfully ask Oxalufan for forgiveness. Xangô then threw festivities in his honor and all the people greeted Oxalá and Xangô. Afterward Oxalufan returned home taken by Airá and, when his son arrived, Oxaguian offered a great banquet in celebration of his father’s return.
The Festival of Oxala
Syncretized with Christianity, Oxala is considered to be the Senhor do Bonfim, who has a famous church in Salvador, the first capital city of Brazil. Therefore, Oxala is celebrated as part of the Lavagem do Bonfim, when the church is ritually cleaned and purified for the coming year.
The festival unites secular religious beliefs – from Catholicism to Candomblé. The festivities, rituals, and prayers extend from the 6th of January – Kings Day – to the 19th of January, reaching their peak on the second Thursday of January, when the Church steps are washed.
The day is meant to reenact some of the events of Oxalufan visiting Xango, with the journey, cleansing, and party.
Connecting with Oxala
You can turn to Oxala if you are looking for harmony and balance in your life, if you want to solve health problems, or have a lack of faith.
Take a bath in white roses, wear light clothing, and elevate your thoughts and vibration. Do this preferably on Fridays, either at sunrise around 6 am, or sunset around 6 pm.
Exu – Intermediary & Guardian of the Crossroads
Iansa – Warrior Goddess of Wind and Storms
Oxossi – Hunting and the Forest
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