In Yoruba mythology, which orisha creates human bodies and is associated with white cloth? The answer is Obatala.
Obatala, also called Orisanla or Orisa-nla, is one of the senior orishas in Yoruba religion. In creation stories, Olodumare assigns him the task of shaping human forms from clay. Olodumare then gives those forms the breath of life, so Obatala is primarily the maker of the body rather than the sole source of life itself.
White is central to Obatala’s symbolism. His name is commonly interpreted as “King of the White Cloth,” and white garments, chalk, beads, doves, and other pale objects express purity, calmness, moral discipline, and clarity. This association explains why the question links him with white cloth.
Some versions say Obatala was also charged with creating the earth, but he became intoxicated on palm wine and Oduduwa completed that part of the work. Later, Obatala molded human bodies, including imperfect forms created while he was drunk. Afterward, he vowed never to drink palm wine again and became a protector of people with physical differences. Yoruba traditions vary by region, so details of the creation story are not identical everywhere.