Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ila Orangun · ID: 3032371

Description

wood, dark brown patina, encrusted with camwood powder “osun”, male/female, high towering crested coiffures, large eyes with notched eye lashes, tapering ears, islamic triangle on breast and back, slightly dam., missing parts (left ear of the male figure);
as the Yoruba believe that twins have a combined, inseparable soul, the moment one of the twins dies, the life of the other is immediately imperiled, because the balance of his soul is seriously disturbed. Therefore an artisan is ordered to carve a small wooden figure to serve as new abode for the soul of the deceased. The “babalawo” performs the traditional ritual of transferring the soul into the wooden figure. They are called “ere ibeji”. The Yoruba word “ibeji” means “twin”, “ere” = “sacred image”.