Male Ibeji, Ilorin area, Oyo province

– Ibeji. Ilorin Oyo. Yoruba, Nigeria. Wood, metal inserts in the eyes. H = 25 cm.

Provenance: Ursula Voorhuis collection. Ursula Heijs-Voorhuis (1932-2021): had a  gallery in the Netherlands and was specialising on the Yoruba art from Nigeria.

The traditional ibeji statuettes are carved on the occasion of the birth of twins.

Biblio:

– Helene Joubert, 2018 Ibeji: Divine Twins
– George Chemeche, 2006, Ibeji: The Cult of Yoruba Twins
– Fausto Polo, 2008, Encyclopedia of the Ibeji
– Fausto Polo & Jean David, 2001, Catalogue of the Ibeji