ere ibeji (twin figure)

unrecorded Ondo artist, artist

ere ibeji (twin figure), late 1800s–1975

Where object was made: Nigeria

Material/technique: wood; pigment; carving

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 29 x 9.5 x 9 cm
Object Height/Width/Length (Height x Width x Length): 11 7/16 x 3 3/4 x 3 9/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. Kenneth Palmer

Accession number: 2007.2703

Not on display

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Forms of Thought

According to Yoruba culture, twins are “children of thunder.” They are sacred, consecrated to Shango—the orisha deity who controls thunder. Like Shango, twins are believed to be spirited, unpredictable, and fearless. If a twin should die, his or her parents would consult a diviner to determine how the deceased twin might be placated so that he/she does not tempt the living twin to join him/her. A carved figure, or ibeji, may be created to venerate the deceased. The family maintains balance by caring for the carved figure alongside the surviving twin. Photographs and plastic toy dolls often perform the function of ibeji figures in contemporary times.

Forms of Thought

The Yoruba considered the souls of twins to be inseparable, even after the death of one of them. A statuette would be carved, to provide a place for the deceased spirit to reside; the figure became the constant companion of the surviving twin. The figure was bathed, dressed and fed whenever the living twin performed these activities. Each year the figure was blessed at a ceremony dedicated to Ibeji, one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods (orishas), who created twins. The Tukula powder which covered the torso and legs of the figures was applied to many representations of the deceased and of ancestors; its reddish color had symboic significance, and it was termite-resistant. The faces of these figures are quite worn, probably from the ministrations of the surviving twin.

Archive label for Palmer collection exhibit, date unknown:
The Yoruba considered the souls of twins to be inseparable, even after the death of one of them. A statuette would be carved, to provide a place for the deceased spirit to reside; the figure became the constant companion of the surviving twin. The figure was bathed, dressed and fed whenever the living twin performed these activities. Each year the figure was blessed at a ceremony dedicated to Ibeji, one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods (orishas), who created twins. The Tukula powder which covered the torso and legs of the figures was applied to many representations of the deceased and of ancestors; its reddish color had symboic significance, and it was termite-resistant. The faces of these figures are quite worn, probably from the ministrations of the surviving twin.