Powerful Human Forms
• Culture: Yoruba
• Medium: Wood, pigment, beads, metal, cowrie shells
• Dates: late 19th-early 20th century
• Dimensions: a: 12 x 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. (30.5 x 6.4 x 6.4 cm) b: 11 1/2 x 2 x 2 1/2 in. (29.2 x 5.1 x 6.4 cm)
• Collections: Arts of Africa
• Museum Location: This item is on view in South Gallery, 1st Floor
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/194078/Pair_of_Ibeji_Figures
The Ibeji figures are formed in order to honor the spirit of a twin that has passed away. In Yoruba beliefs, twins are sacred and share the same soul. They make an Ibeji so that the twin’s spirit can rest there. The mother will treat this figure as though it were a real baby, feed in, cloth it, and carry it around. Others in the village may also honor the past twin by giving the mother of twin’s offering and donations. These figures are hand carved from wood, but now the Ibeji can be figurines or dolls bought from the market or store by the mother rather than formed from organic materials. The Yoruba people have a long legacy of spiritual practices and religious beliefs that have been performed from generation to generation, as Fandrich puts it “The Yoruba people admirably held on to the spiritual ways of their forebears against all adversities…”[i]
[i] Fandrich, Yorùbá Influences on Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo.
[i] Fandrich, Yorùbá Influences on Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo.