SLIDE 9 Ibeji, Yoruba, Nigeria, 20th century

HOW WAS THIS OBJECT USED? WHAT PURPOSE DID IT SERVE? This nine-inch-tall figure is called an ibeji. Ibeji are made by the Yoruba people of Nigeria to commemorate the death of a twin child. The Yoruba people have an extremely high birth rate of twins; they also have a very high child mortality rate and oftentimes one or both of the twins die. An ibeji is carved when a twin dies. The mother then cares for the ibeji just as if it were a real child. She feeds it, dresses it, rubs it with special oils, and treats it just as she does her living child. The Yoruba people believe that twins share one soul which splits ill half at birth and that each half lives in one of the two twins. If one twin dies, there is fear that the soul of the dead twin will convince the soul of the living twin to come join it in the spirit world. By obtaining an ibeji, the mother provides a place for the spirit of the deceased twin to reside. In this way the soul of the twins remains intact. By taking care of the ibeji, parents hope that the soul of the deceased child will bring them good luck. This ibeji is dressed in an elaborate beaded gown that signifies the wealth of that particular family, as do the strings of cowry shells that drape from the gown. Beads and cowry shells are signs of wealth and prestige in many African societies. PART 2-PAGE 6 OF 9

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