The Yoruba are one of sub-Saharan Africa's oldest
surviving cultures, with origins that can be traced back about a thousand
years. Located predominately in Nigeria, the Yoruba are known for their
diverse and creative artistic production. One of their most distinctive
sculptural traditions is represented by these twin figures or
ibeji.
IBEJI
is a deity in human form. Anyone blessed with twins must do all things
possible to please them. They would in turn make their parents' life
prosperous. But, if their parents' fail to understand and acknowledge them,
the road could be very rough.
Ibeji statutes are created on the occasion of the death of one or both of a pair of twins. This practice is rooted in the Yoruba people's high regard for twins, whose arrival is viewed as auspicious. Not coincidentally, the Yoruba have an unusually high frequency of twin births, as well as relatively high infant mortality rate. According to legend, the Yoruba once regarded twins as a bad omen. Centuries ago, mysterious deaths among the children of one region caused the Yoruba to consult with an oracle. The resulting advice was direct and has been followed for centuries: twins must be honored.
Typically portrayed in adult form, ibeji stand in an assured and fully symmetrical stance. Once carved, the twin statuettes are placed in a household shrine and ritually cared for by the mother. In addition to honoring them with prayers and offerings, mothers may even bathe and dress the figures. As seen here, years of handling have rendered the surfaces smooth and lustrous, except where the residue of ritually applied herbs has accumulated in the curves and crevices. Such care is believed to help ensure the good fortune of surviving family members.
Eileen Carr
SUGGESTED READINGS:
Henry Drewal, John Pemberton III and Rowland Abiodun. Yoruba, Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought. New York: Abrams, 1989.
Robert Farris Thompson. Black Gods and Kings: Yoruba Art at UCLA. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.