Oxalá in Candomblé | The father of men, his qualities and legends.

O Candomblé it is a monotheistic religion, which has one God. The orixás are like saints or angels.
Olorum is the greatest, only God, and his direct children would have become orixás. are currently worshiped 16 orishasbut there are more.

Oxalá in Candomblé is the first son of Olorum and is considered the father of men. He knows more about this entity.

Who is Oxalá in Candomblé

Oxalá is the holder of male procreative power. It is a fundamental element of the beginnings. When incorporated, it takes two forms: oxaguiãwho is a young warrior, and Oxalufanwhich is an old man leaning on a silver stick (Opaxorô).

Father of men, creator of humanity, Oxalá in Candomblé is the father of all. All stories that relate the creation of the world necessarily pass through Oxalá. He was the first Orisha conceived by Olorum and in charge of creating not only the universe, but all things that exist in the world.

Oxalá is oblivious to all violence, disputes, fights. He likes order, cleanliness and purity. Very wise and benevolent with his children, he leads them along the paths of victory. He is regent of the Throne of Faith, that is, he is associated with all matters involving Hope and Trust in God.

Due to his position, Oxalá became somewhat arrogant and demanding, thus being very stubborn and perfectionist. He always gets what he wants through his strategies and reasoning ability.

Oxalá’s biggest ban is palm oil, which should never tarnish your clothes, your sacred objects, let alone your Allah.

The only red thing that Oxalá allows is the feather of Ikodidè, proof of her submission to the female parent power.

Legend 1 – Oxalá and the Creation of Man

Oxalá in Candomblé is the oldest Orixá, son of Olorum. It was to him that his father entrusted the creation bag, so that he could create the world.

But, like every Orisha, Oxalá should follow some procedures to do the creation ritual. He, very haughty and presumptuous, refused to make a big offering, thinking that being the oldest Orisha this was not necessary.

exú, the person responsible for supervising the entrance to the world of the Beyond, did not like Oxalá’s lack of respect at all. When he passed by the place, he felt a great thirst that forced him to pierce a palm tree with his Oaxorô.

A red and delicious liquid began to come out of the tree and Oxalá drank it until he got drunk and fell asleep. What he didn’t know is that this drink was palm wine.

While he slept, his brother and biggest rival, Oduduá, passed him and stole the creation bag, taking him to Olorum and telling what happened to Oxalá.

Olorum then allowed Oduduá to create the world. So he made the whole offering and the first city to appear was Ife. Oduduá became his king.

Upon waking up, Oxalá, outraged at not having the bag of creation, went to talk to Olorum. As a punishment, he was punished never to drink palm wine or use palm oil again.

But, touched by Oxalá’s frustration, he allowed it as a consolation in creating man from clay, where Olorum would breathe life.

Oxalá committed himself to the task, but he did not follow all his father’s orders. He secretly drank palm wine. That’s why some people are born with physical disabilities or albino because they don’t stay in the Oxalá oven for the right time to cook.

Legend 2 – Oxalá and Exu

Once, when the Orixás were gathered, Oxalá slapped Exu and threw him to the ground, all bruised. But at the same moment, Exu got up, already cured.

Then Oxalá hit his head and Exu became a dwarf. But Exu shook himself and returned to normal.

Afterwards, Oxalá shook Exu’s head and it became huge. But Exu rubbed her head with her hands and she became normal.

The fight continued until Exu took a little gourd from his own head; white smoke came out of it that took away the colors of Oxalá. Oxalá rubbed himself, as Exu had done, but he did not return to normal.

Then, Oxalá took the axé from his head and blew it on Exu, who became docile and handed him the gourd, which Oxalá uses to make white people.

Qualities of Oxalá

Oxalá in Candomblé has two very important qualities that guide all its characteristics and that of its children:

Oxalá Oxalufan – is the oldest Oxalá. His temple is in Ifon. This Oxalá is bent over because of time. The years weigh heavily on your body. He is slow like an old man in pain. It is the Opaxorô that sustains it, a white metal stick with the image of a bird. It is directly connected with tranquility, peace, wisdom and patience.

I hope Oxaguian – is the son of Oxalufã, a young, strong and warrior Orisha. His main temple is Ejigbo. In his hands are the shield, sword, pestle hand and polvarim. Oxaguiã is the Orisha responsible for encouraging his children in their daily struggles so that they can overcome them. He is dynamic and always on the move. It governs innovation. His favorite food is yam (that’s why he created the pestle) and his name is derived precisely from his favorite dish: Orixá eater of pounded yam. With severe characteristics, Oxaguian is the one who motivates with a fighting spirit and will to win.

See below for other qualities of Oxalá:

I hope Ajagemo – for which, during his annual party in Edé, they dance and mime, a fight between him and Oluniwi, in which the latter emerges victorious.

I hope Akire or Ikire – is a valiant, very rich warrior who turns those who neglect him into deaf and dumb.

Osalá Alase or Olúorogbo – saved the world by making it rain in a period of drought.

Oosaalá Etéko – walks with Oxaguiã, he is restless. It lives in the woods and eats all kinds of white meat.

I hope Etetus Obá Dugbe – another warrior, linked to Orixalá.

I hope Lejugbe – is often confused with Oxalufan; for being lazy and indecisive. Very close to Ayrá.

I hope Obatalá – is the oldest of the orixás. The great white king; root of all other Oxalás. It is not made, it is made Ayrá or Oxum Opara. He is the father of Oxalufan who in turn is the father of Oxaguiã. Because he is very big and powerful, Obatalá does not manifest himself. His word immediately becomes reality. He represents the mass, the air, the cold and still waters of the beginning of the world, he controls the formation of new beings, he is the lord of the living and the dead.

Oxalá food

Fruits for Oxalá

Materials: 4 pears, 3 bunches of Italy grapes (cannot use dark grapes), honey for drizzling, 500 ml of mineral water and 1 white candle.

Way of doing: place the grapes in the center, the 4 pears wrapped, water everything with honey, pour the water wrapped in a circular motion and light the candle.

White hominy for Oxalá

Materials: 1 white rose, 200g of white undercooked and cold hominy, 1 white candle and 500 ml of mineral water.

Way of doing: make a little pile with the hominy and place the white rose on top, put the mineral water around it and light the candle.

Greetings from Oxalá in Candomblé

hey nanny – means hello, with admiration and amazement, to the ancestor of the ancestors.

The color of Oxalá in Candomblé is white and its day is Friday. Your children must wear white on this day. Metals and other white substances belong to Oxalá.

See also I hope in Umbanda.