Yoruba Ibeji Pair of Twin Figures Nigeria wood pearls

  
This is a pair of twin figures from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, created in the early 20th century. The Yoruba people have one of the highest rates of twin births globally, which bestows upon twins a revered status as extraordinary beings. Protected by Sango, the deity of thunder, twins are believed to possess the power to bring immense blessings or misfortune to those who fail to honor them. In life, twins are esteemed as powerful spirits, and upon their passing, they are commemorated with intricately carved memorial figures known as "ere ibeji, " meaning sacred image of two born. These figures serve as a conduit to the spirit of the departed twins. Traditionally, the mother of the twins provides meticulous ritual care to these figures, bathing, dressing, adorning, and even feeding them. Typically, ere ibeji portray their subjects with mature adult features, often adorned with elaborate hairdos colored in blue and dressed in robes embellished with pearls.

These dolls serve as tangible manifestations of reverence and remembrance within Yoruba culture, embodying the enduring bond between the living and the spirit realm.