In very similar fashion to the Yoruba in Nigeria, their eastern neighbours, the Ewe in Togo and Ghana honour their twins. And similar to how the Yoruba create carved ‘ibeji twin figures’ for dead twins (see cat. no. 64), vicarious sculptures for deceased twins are also produced amongst the Ewe. Yet the Ewe call these figures ‘venavi’ and they are stylistically somewhat different: ‘venavi’ are carved from light, light-coloured wood, generally from the wood of the kapok tree. They are also usually not coloured. Only occasionally are the hairstyle or the feet painted black. The proportions of the ‘Ewe venavi’ are, in comparison to the ‘ibeji’ of the Yoruba, oriented more realistically to the actual measurements of the human body. Nevertheless, the ‘classical’ Ewe style stipulates a very stereotyped pose for the ‘venavi’: rigid, standing emphatically upright, and with both arms and hands always separated from the body, pointing directly downwards. This characteristic style can also be recognised in both of the ‘venavi figures’ offered here. Both objects are very carefully crafted and their hairstyles are dyed slightly darker. The man’s right foot is broken off at the front, while the woman’s two feet are damaged at the front. There are small, age-related areas of damage, such as the two cracks to the head and body of the woman. Yet both ‘venavi’ figures perfectly embody the style of the Ewe carvers, and feature a beautiful, old shiny patina.
Height: 20 cm and 22 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: South African private collection.

Lit.: ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 225.