Details
ITEM #:
2434
ETHNICITY:
Yoruba
ORIGIN:
Nigeria
MEDIUM:
Wood, Pigment, Beads, Shells.
DIMENSIONS:
11.75″ Tall (29.8 cm)
CONDITION:
Good.
CATALOGUE NOTE:
Celebrating the Ibeji Figure : Sacred Yoruba Tradition
The Yoruba culture, with one of the world’s highest rates of twinning, celebrates these births with divine protection and artistic veneration. Twins in the Yoruba tradition are under the auspices of Shango, the thunder deity, their presence a blessing despite the poignant challenges of infant mortality they face.
To art collectors and connoisseurs of African heritage, the Ere ibeji figure stand as a testament to Yoruba resilience and spirituality. These wooden sculptures transcend mere representations of twins; they embody an idealized aesthetic of life’s prime, far removed from infancy or elderliness. In a blend of art and ritual, bereaved families find solace as these figures become vessels for souls too swiftly departed.
The Ere ibeji figure carvings are adorned with beauty – camwood dust, cowries, and vibrant textiles. Mothers carry them wrapped close, in a poignant echo of care for the children they represent. It’s a tradition rich in spiritual kinship, a bridge between the seen and unseen realms.
For the collector, acquiring an Ere ibeji figure is to hold a fragment of Yoruba lore, an art form infused with communal love and otherworldly guardianship. These are not mere collectibles; they are guardians of heritage, each figure a unique narrative of the Yoruba people’s reverence for life in all its dual expressions.
