Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"
Description
wood, rich reddish brown patina, encrustations with camwood powder “osun”, small remains of indigo blue and white pigment, with free standing feet rising from high sandals, the male figure carved with bracelets and islamic triangle “tirah”, pointed mouth with filed teeth, facial features abraded (due to the regular applying of food offerings and innumerable face washings), slightly dam., left leg/foot of the male figure rep.(?);
when a twin died, parents visited the priest of the “ifa” oracle, and asked which wood carver they had to call on to sculpt an “ere ibeji”. A rooster was sacrificed at the foot of the “ire ona”, the tree from which the “ibeji” was carved. Usually the figure was ready within one week. The carver had to take account of the twin’s gender and the group’s facial scarifications, but was otherwise totally free in the creation of a new ibeji. Prior to the statuette being handed over to the parents, the carver would summon the “emi” (spirit) of the deceased child by having the figurine lie for days in a brew consisting of water and finely mashed leaves of a particular sort. After drying, he would rub-in a mixture of palm oil and shea butter, called “ero”. With a big feast in the house of the carver and a final offering to “ogun”, the parents received their “ibeji”. The “ere ibeji” had become a new home for the soul of the deceased twin. The dead child remained present amongst the living, with - and by the grace of- the “ibeji”.