Ibedji Female with Offering Cup

In the case of ”ibeji“ In Yoruba, ” “ibedji” means “twin”, if one or both twins die, the mother, on the advice of the sorcerer, orders the manufacture of figurines, so that the twin souls do not separate, which are in fact but a single soul divided into two. These figures will occupy the place of the dead twin, but with the appearance that it would have as an adult, that is, as the human being that could have been and was not. The family will consider the statuette as a more twin During the holidays, their mothers will dance with them as if they were alive and daily will take care of them, feeding them, washing them and dressing them to deserve their good offices and this they will do until the surviving twin can take care of doing it himself. At the death of the surviving mother or twins, the statuette loses all its significance. Usually these statuettes are covered, in the family altars, with a vest of cauris.

In addition to the daily toilets, the Yoruba twins, Ibedji, are washed every four days, which corresponds to Yoruba week, which is established according to the markets. They are rubbed with “tekula”, red powder, and dressed as if they were alive, The sense of rite is to show that the deceased son has not been forgotten and that it would be welcome if he decided to redo a new earthly life.

Yoruba twins are endowed with great power, especially to attract fertility, but if the mother does not care for them properly they can cause their infertility.

Kneeling woman with cup of offerings between her hands. Ritual scarifications in front and breasts. It carries a two-round red beads necklace on the neck and bracelets on the incised wrists in the wood. Remains of indigo.