Olodumare

Olodumare, also rendered Olodumaré in some traditions and sometimes equated with Eledumare or Olorun, is regarded in Yoruba religion as the supreme being, the creator of the heavens and the earth, and the source of all life and order. He is traditionally seen as transcendent and distant, yet immanent in the world through divine will and the life force that flows through all beings.

In Yoruba cosmology, Olodumare delegates the governance of the world to a hierarchy of orishas, who act as mediators and agents of divine intention on earth. The orishas, along with ancestral spirits, carry out Olodumare’s commands, guide human affairs, and mediate between people and the supreme deity. Olodumare is thus the ultimate source of power, while daily rituals and offerings are often directed through the orishas.

Creation myths involving Olodumare vary by region and tradition. A common narrative describes Olodumare sending Oduduwa (sometimes with the help of Obatala) to descend to the void and fashion land from the primordial waters, with Obatala shaping humanity from clay under Olodumare’s guidance. Other versions emphasize different artisans or emphasize Olodumare’s remote sovereignty. Despite the variations, the core idea is that Olodumare initiated and sustains the cosmos, with humans and the world entrusted to the orishas' care.

In practice, Olodumare is acknowledged in prayers and rites, though direct daily worship is often conducted through the orishas and in communal ceremonies. The concept of ase, the life force permeating creation, is linked to Olodumare as the ultimate source of divine energy.

See also: Yoruba religion, Orisha, Obatala, Oduduwa.