Among the Yoruba people, in southwestern Nigeria, twins are regarded as something special. The Yoruba believe that twins only have one soul between them. If one twin dies, then a ‘vicarious figure’ must swiftly be carved. This guarantees that the soul of the surviving twin is complete again. These 'vicarious figures’ are called ‘ibeji’. For a more detailed explanation see cat. no. 47. The ‘ibeji pair’ presented here, both male, display a low crested coiffure, with distinctive, earlier blue colouring (‘bluing’), customary tribal decorative scarification marks on their foreheads and cheeks, as well as jewellery on both upper arms. The carved arms of both figures hang free on the sides. This is rare among ‘ibeji sculptures’.
One of the ‘ibeji’ wears a sort of dress, with a belt and the other wears a loincloth. Both objects strand on a rectangular base plate decorated on the outside in relief. This ibeji pair have some damage on the back (old insect damage) however, they also have a shiny patina after years of care. Height: each 23 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Belgian collection.

Lit.:
'Ibeji. The Cult of Yoruba Twins' by George Chemeche, ill. 264, 277, 278.