Antique Ibeji statuette, Yoruba, Nigeria

Antique Yoruba Ibeji figure, Nigeria.

Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of an Orisha (spirit) representing a pair of divine twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originally from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria). In the Yoruba spirituality of the Latin American diaspora, the Ibeji are syncretised with Saints Cosmas and Damian. In Yoruba culture and spirituality twins are believed to be magical and are granted protection by the Orisha Shango. If one twin dies, it means misfortune for the parents and for the society to which they belong. The parents therefore commission a babalawo (high priest) to carve an Ibeji in wood to represent the deceased twin, and they care for the figure as if it were a real person. Apart from its sex, the appearance of the Ibeji is determined by the carver. The parents then dress and decorate the ibeji to reflect their own standing, using garments made from cowrie shells, beads, coins or paint.

The clothing is decorated with glass beads. The wood shows general wear.

Height 26 cm.