Male twin figure "ere ibeji"
Deutsche Privatsammlung
Description
wood, slightly shiny dark brown patina, traces of black paint, strings of glass beads around the ankles, pleasing facial features, beautiful details: carved with a loincloth which is tied by a knot backside, coiffure in diagonal lobes, drilled ear holes for attachment of ornament, unusual: free carved feet, drilled pupils (nailheads missing), facial features rubbed off, slightly dam. (eyelids), crack (back of the head);
from the moment the mother received the “ibeji” she ritually cared for it.The “ibeji” is washed, clothed and fed at the same time as the living child. Additionally, there were also periodical rituals “etutu” to venerate the “ibeji”. These took place every five days, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. They would begin by summon up the name of the dead twin, followed by the singing of the personal praise songs “oriki” of the “ibeji”. Food, usually small pieces of bean cake prepared with palm oil, was placed in front of the statuettes or smeared on the lips. Aside from these periodic rituals, the “iya ibeji” (the mother of a twin) would often go to the market to dance and sing songs, in lofty praise of the power and might of twins.