How the Vulture Became a Sacred Messenger

During a terrible drought, the earth was cracked and barren, and the people were starving. All the animals gathered and decided someone must go to Olodumare, the Supreme Being in the sky, to plead for rain. The journey was long and dangerous, beyond the reach of most. The Eagle, proud and strong, refused. "The journey is too far; my wings would tire," he said. The Hornbill, beautiful and vain, also refused. One by one, all the birds made excuses. Finally, the Vulture, an ugly and despised bird, stepped forward. "I will go," he said. "The people are suffering, and it is our duty." He took the people's sacrifices and prayers and flew for seven days and seven nights. He arrived in the heavens, featherless and exhausted from the effort, and delivered the message to Olodumare. The Supreme Being was so moved by the Vulture's selfless act that he sent the rain to save the earth. He then declared that the Vulture would forever be a sacred messenger. Its bald head would be a mark of its sacrifice, and no one should ever harm it, for it was the Vulture who saved the world when the beautiful and the proud would not.