figure carving statuette ibeji male

Ibeji, male statuette, standing. If a twin dies the death is marked by the commissioning of a carved wooden figurine from a sculptor. Known as an 'ibeji', the figurine is of the same sex as the dead twin and is treated by the mother with all the love and respect that the twin would have received if alive, including being fed, washed and adorned. This ibeji is the smaller of two collected from Nigeria, early 20th century. Detail of feet, hair, genitals, hair in topknot. On a small stand.

Late: 1948

Burnett,Charles Sir

Yoruba

wood

Burnett,Charles Sir

Among the Yoruba of northern Nigeria twins are common and they are regarded with affection and their birth is a good omen. If a twin dies the death is marked by the commissioning from a sculptor of a carved wooden figurine, of the same sex as the dead twin, known as an 'ibeji'. The ibeji is treated by the mother with all the love and respect that the twin would have received if alive, including being fed washed and adorned. This duty is passed on to the surviving sibling when old enough, and who will continue with the rtual throughout the rest of his or her life. The figurine is kept in the corner of the house. This shows a male and a female ibeji. They were collected together from Nigeria in the early 20th century. They are probably not a pair, but they illustrate the similarity of form although they have been carefully sculpted as portraits of either sex, with the hair, face, genitals clearly depicted. The female is taller than the male. The ibeji are the most common carved religious images found in northern Nigeria, and represent the twin-spirits known as 'orisha', although not in the same sense as the other named ones

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