Carved Wooden Figure in Style of Yoruba Twin Figure

Item Details

A carved wooden figure in the style of a Yoruba twin figure (Ère Ìbejì). The figure has nails embedded in its eyes, female breasts, male genitalia, and a string of thin beads around its waist. Mounted with metal screws onto a wooden base with a wood veneer. Unmarked.

The Yoruba is one of Africa’s largest ethnic groups with over 40 million people in Nigeria and Benin. The Yoruba have a large birth rate for twins with 45 in 1,000 resulting in twins. The concept of twins and duality is important to the Yoruba culture. It is believed every person has a spiritual counterpart that remains in heaven when they are born. When twins are born, both the earthly and heavenly counterparts have come to earth. Should one twin die, a ère ìbejì is created and cared for as if it were a living child. This practice both honors the deceased child and is intended to prevent the other from following their twin to the afterlife.

Condition

- damage to wood on figure’s mouth and along crest of head; chipping to veneer on wooden base along bottom corners; strong odor to item.

Dimensions

Item #

17NYC999-310