Ibedji figure representing a dead male twin, Yoruba people, Nigeria, 1871-1910

Made:
1871-1910 in Nigeria
maker:
Yoruba people
Left hand side - A655924 Left hand side - A655924

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Left hand side - A655924
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Left hand side - A655924
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Carved wooden effigy or Ibedji figure made to represent a dead twin and acts as a receptacle for its spirit, with bead girdle, necklaces, anklets and brass armlets, Yoruba, Nigeria, 1871-1910

Among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, twins are believed to bless their parents with good fortune. The Yoruba people have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world and the death of a twin is considered a great misfortune. If a twin dies, the mother commissions a memorial figure (two if both twins die), and the soul of the deceased twin is believed to be transferred to it. The mother dresses the statue in cloth and jewellery and keeps it near her bed. She also offers the figure food and prayers weekly, and performs more elaborate rituals on the occasion of birthdays and annual festivals. This statue represents a male twin and forms a pair with A655927.

Details

Category:
Ethnography and Folk Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A655924
Materials:
wood, glass, beads and brass, armlets
type:
statue
credit:
Sotheby's