Ibeji male twin figures

An Ibeji male twin figures, from the Yoruba people, Oyo group, both stand on a decorated wooden base, long flat feet, small legs, large chest, big head taking up a third of the length of the whole sculpture, the face has expressive features, the eyes are surrounded by eyelashes and the pupils is punctuated by a metal nail, there are scarification marks all round the cheeks, the hair is pulled upright and is coloured in washing blue, both sculptures have coloured necklaces around their neck, for the smaller statue they are around its waist, for the taller figure around his ankles. The red and white bracelets are to honour the god Orisha Shango, who takes care of the twins, the black and white bracelets are to honour Orisha Eshu, the blue bracelets for Orisha Eshun who is the mother of many children, the yellow and green bracelets are to honour Ifa, and the thin black disc purls bracelets are to protect the twins from Abiku ghost, who is the ghost that will make the twins born to die; both have cowrie shells bracelets, which are like money and are a sign of wealth; ritual oil and camwood powder is smear onto both sculptures, insect damage on the hair, signs of use.

Sources: Doppel-Leben Ibeji Zwillingsfiguren, Hanni Jantzen und Ludwig Bertsch SJ. Munchen: Hirmer 1993, p.80
Enzyklopadie Der Ibeji, Fausto Polo, p.496.

“Yoruba peoples have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twins are regarded as extraordinary beings protected by Sango, the deity of thunder. They are believed to be capable of bestowing immense wealth upon their families or misfortune on those who do not honour them. Powerful spirits in life, twins are honoured with carved memorial figures when they die. These figures, known as ere ibeji (literally meaning ere: sacred image; ibi: born; eji: two), remain a point of access to the spirit of the departed individual. The mother provides ritual care to the figures, bathing, dressing, adorning, and feeding them. Such daily handling is responsible for giving their surface its distinctive patina. Ere ibeji invariably represent their subjects with mature adult physiognomies, and are often crowned with elaborate hairdos.”

Lit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Height: 25 cm / 27 cm
Weight: 470 g / 470 g