Ibedji pair

In the Yoruba religion, “Ibeji” (also spelled Ibejí or Ibeyí) refers to a pair of divine twins, and Ibeji figures are often created to honor or commemorate deceased twins

Among the Yoruba people, twins (Ibeji) are considered special children whose birth brings blessings and prosperity to their parents. With one of the highest twin birth rates in the world, the Yoruba view the loss of a twin as a profound misfortune. To honor the deceased twin, the mother commissions a memorial figure—two if both have passed—believing that the soul of the lost child resides within it.

These figures are carefully dressed in cloth, adorned with jewelry, and kept near the mother’s bedside. She regularly offers them food and prayers, with more elaborate ceremonies held on birthdays and annual festivals. The Ibeji figures are carved in distinct regional styles; the ones shown here follow the Abeokuta tradition.

Yoruba artistic conventions emphasize proportion, with the head making up one-third of the figure’s height, symbolizing destiny or the “inner head,” which influences one’s fate. Rather than striving for photographic realism, Yoruba carvers focus on stylized yet expressive features. The smooth, polished surface—achieved without modern sandpaper—reflects the desired quality of luminosity. Other key Yoruba aesthetic principles include balance, clarity of form, youthful vitality, and elegant linearity.