Yoruba Twin Figures Ere Ibeji
Among the Yoruba people, twins are believed to possess special supernatural powers.
Tribe: Yoruba, Egba
Origin: Nigeria, Ogun State, Abeokuta area
Approximate Age: Acquired in Nigeria in the 1980s
Materials: Wood, glass beads, cowries
Dimensions cm: Height 24 – 24.5 cm.
Ref. Number: 1890a
£250.00
Description:
A pair of Yoruba ere ibeji twin figures decorated with glass beads and cowrie shells, covered in red powder known as Camwood powder. Many ibejis are partly covered with a crust of dried camwood powder derived from the tree Baphia nitida, found in West African countries. The dye comes from the bark and heart of the tree, and, like indigo, it is soluble in an alkaline solution, making it suitable for application. The red camwood powder may signify the God Shango for some families and is used to decorate and protect the Ere Ibeji. This also explains why it is not found on all ibejis.
Provenance: – Hans-Joachim Struck (1934-2016), acquired in Nigeria in the 1980s.
– Hammer Auction 99, April 21, 2022, Lot 47.
– Canadian private collection, Montreal.
History
Twins have always been a source of mystery: deified or demonised, in legends and myths, and even in astrology, we find these pairs as an expression of the fascination they exude. This is also the case among the Yoruba in southwest Nigeria, who can demonstrably claim the highest twin birth rate in the world.
Among the Yoruba, twins are believed to possess special supernatural powers. On the one hand, they bring happiness, health, and prosperity to the family, while on the other, they can ward off misfortune, illness, and death. For this reason, they enjoy special interest throughout their lives.
For the Yoruba, twins share a common, indivisible soul. If one of the twins dies, the balance of this unity is disturbed, and the surviving twin is consequently endangered. To prevent this, a wooden figure, called an ibeji, is consecrated in a ceremonial ritual as a symbolic substitute home for the soul of the deceased!
The well-being of the second twin then depends on the care and veneration of this ibeji. At the same time, another figure is also made to house the soul of the second twin. Once both twins have died, the figures continue to be carefully guarded and kept as a memento until no one can remember the deceased anymore.
Photo taken from Michael Backman Ltd.com
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