A story of submission
One traditional story tells of the young Orixá Xangô, in this account a son of Obatalá, who left his horse tied outside a house while visiting, only to have it taken by his own father and the deity Odudua. Furious and not recognizing them, Xangô confronted the two elders to reclaim it, until Obatalá raised his staff, spoke a command, and Xangô — realizing who stood before him — threw himself to the ground in submission. Obatalá then broke Xangô's necklace of red beads and mixed in white beads of his own, declaring it a sign to all the world that Xangô was his son. From that day, the story holds, Xangô submitted to his father's authority.
Character, symbols, and syncretism
Oxalá's character is described as peaceful, powerful, and spiritually pure. His emblem is a ceremonial staff (called oparoxó or opaxorô), his color white, and his element air. In Brazilian Catholic-Afro-Brazilian syncretism he is paired with Jesus Christ, and in Bahia is also venerated under the regional devotion Nosso Senhor do Bonfim.