Obatala (Ọbàtálá, 'King of the White Cloth') is the Orisha of ìṣẹ̀dá (creation) and ìmọ́lẹ̀ (purity), the sculptor who shapes human ara (bodies) from amọ̀ (clay) before Olodumare breathes ẹ̀mí (breath/spirit) into them. According to Britannica's account of Yoruba religion, Obatala is the senior Orisha entrusted with forming the ori (head) — the seat of destiny — and is associated with aṣọ àlà (white cloth), omi títí (cool water), and the àkókó (mountaintop). The central ese Ifá narrative recounts that Obatala drank ẹmu (palm wine) during his sculpting and created humans with àbùkù (impairments), teaching that sacred creative work demands absolute ìfọ̀kànbalẹ̀ (composure) and sobriety — power exercised without restraint disfigures what it intends to form.