The Twin Cult in West Africa

The Yoruba people living in southwestern Nigeria have one of the highest twin birth rates in the world (45 births per 1,000). As a result, twins are regarded as extraordinary beings, protected by the powerful orisha Shango, the deity of thunder. They are often referred to as "the children of thunder." The birth of twins is an occasion for celebration, but also a source of concern, as twins have the power to bring blessings to those who honor them properly and misfortune to those who neglect or offend them.

Twins are more fragile at birth than single-born children, and it is common for one or both to pass away. Powerful spirits in both life and death, a deceased twin or pair of twins are honored through carved commemorative figures known as Ere Ibeji. If one or both twins die, the parents often consult an Ifa divination priest, who may determine that an Ere Ibeji sculpture or a pair of Ibeji figures should be made, matching the gender of the deceased twin(s).

During the period in which the figure is being carved, the mother sends food offerings to the artist and offers additional gifts once the sculpture is completed. When the sculpture is finished, the carver performs a series of rituals to prepare the figure(s) to receive the spirit of the deceased twin(s). The mother then carries the Ere Ibeji home on her back, as if it were a living child, while women along the way greet her, singing praises specific to twins in the Yoruba tradition.

At home, the Ibeji is placed on a small altar in the mother's room, its face ritually washed, and it may also be dressed in clothes adorned with beads or cowrie shells (an old currency unit in Nigeria). Offerings of the twins' favorite foods, such as beans and palm oil or gari (cassava flour), may be made. The body is coated with a powder made from camwood mixed with red oil, and the hair is dyed with dark indigo or Reckitt’s blue (laundry blue). It may even be put to bed at night with a blanket to keep it warm during the cold season. If well cared for, the spirit of the deceased child can bring wealth, luck, and harmony to the parents' home.

It is worth noting that all Ere Ibeji statuettes are depicted as adults in the prime of life. The breasts of the female figures are full, and the genitalia of the male figures are clearly visible. They stand upright, with their heads (the seat of the soul in Yoruba belief), which make up a third of the sculpture, adorned with elaborate hairstyles. Their faces are serene, conveying a sense of calm and inner strength.

When the twins' mother passes away, the Ibeji figure(s) may be placed in a shrine dedicated to Shango, or a surviving twin may take care of the Ere Ibeji of their deceased brother or sister, continuing the care until their own death. In some families, descendants may choose to sell the figure(s) to local art merchants. These sculptures then make their way into the international African art market.

Photos credits: Archives MAHICAO - https://mahicao.org/