Ibeji Wooden Statue, Yoruba, Nigeria, Twentieth Century

This Ibeji statue is part of the cult of twins among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The Yoruba regard the twins as gifts from heaven; they are the children of the god of thunder, as so often in Africa. They are synonymous luck if on ritual duties have been properly made. If unfortunately one of the twins died, a wooden statuette must immediately be sculpted to "replace" the twin who died from his living twin. Indeed, the Yoruba believe that twins have a unique and inseparable soul. If one twin dies, the soul of the living twin is in danger because it loses its balance. This cult statuettes aims to restore duality twin broken by death. The twins are represented by their gender. Our statuette is a twin girl. These statuettes are called ere (image) ibeiji (twins). The ere ibeji are placed in clean gourds and leaning against the wall inside the house twins. The two holes in the cap subsequently were therefore pierced to create this ibeji. Small dishes containing food is placed before them in order to feed them (especially beans mixed with palm oil), it was dressed and washed as if the twin was still alive. It also coats the lips and sometimes the entire oil statuette giving a beautiful patina to the ere ibeji. The Ibeji are adorned with glass beads necklaces, as here the loop in yellow glass beads, brass elements (metal very valuable and very high value in African culture), as here the burned disc "Republic of Nigeria 1973 " and foot bracelet. Our ere Ibeji is a testament to the birth and the loss of a twin. It is likely that her sister or brother is still alive if the inscription on the brass disc has not been added after the creation of the statuette. Delivery worldwide. This sculpture is visible in our showroom of Blaye, 19 cours Bacalan, 33390 Blaye.