The Yoruba people of West Africa honour a family of divine spirits called the Orisha. Obatala is the eldest of them, the patient sky father, and the one whose hands shape every human body.

This is a song for him, and it is the tender heart of the album.

What to Expect. Warm Hammond organ under djembe and steady claps Highlife guitar and a rich, gentle male lead A slow anthemic build into a large communal chorus West African folk fusion with modern indie production

About Obatala. In Yoruba tradition, Olodumare gave Obatala the task of shaping human bodies from clay, which is why he is honoured as the maker of humankind. He is called the King of the White Cloth, and white is his color, standing for purity, calm, and clarity of mind. He is associated with mountains and high places, and he is the eldest and most patient of the Orisha, the one others turn to for judgment and peace.

Though often described as a father figure, Obatala is traditionally understood to embody both male and female, holding the whole of creation's nature within one being.

The part of his story that moved me most is this: he is the protector of those born different, of the overlooked and the unusual. In tradition, those the world sets aside are held closest by the very hand that made them.

He teaches that you were shaped deliberately, and that however you were made, you were meant.

This Song Is For You If You've Ever. - Felt like the odd one out in a room - Wondered whether you were made wrong - Needed someone patient to remind you that you are not a mistake

However you were fashioned, you were always meant to be.

"Carry Us Home", songs for the Orisha of West Africa

These are living traditions, still practiced across West Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas today. Traditions vary by region and lineage, and respectful corrections are always welcome in the YouTube comments.