An Ibeji Yoruba couple, Nigeria, Kwara region. Certificate of origin and provenance.

"Yoruba peoples have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twins are regarded as extraordinary beings protected by Sango, the deity of thunder. They are believed to be capable of bestowing immense wealth upon their families or misfortune to those who do not honor them. Powerful spirits in life, twins are honored with carved memorial figures when they die. These figures, known as ere ibeji (literally meaning ere: sacred image; ibi: born; eji: two), remain a point of access to the spirit of the departed individual. The mother provides ritual care to the figures, bathing, dressing, adorning, and feeding them. Such daily handling is responsible for giving their surface its distinctive patina. Ere ibeji invariably represent their subjects with mature adult physiognomies, and are often crowned with elaborate hairdos." Lit: The MeET

“The Yorùbá people pronounced Joruba are an African ethnic group that inhabits western Africa. The Yoruba population is around 42 million people in total. with the majority of this population from Nigeria, where the Yorùbá make up 21% of the country's population. They also can be found in some parts of the Benin Republic and Togo. They are one of the largest African ethnic groups south of the Sahara Desert and not a single group, but rather a collection of diverse people bound together by a common language, history, and culture. According to a Yoruba creation myth, the deities (gods) originally lived in the sky with only water below them. Olorun, the Sky God, gave to Orishala, the God of Whiteness, a chain, a bit of earth in a snail shell, and a five-toed chicken. He told Orishala to go down and create the earth. Orishala approached the gate of heaven. He saw some deities having a party and he stopped to greet them. They offered him palm wine and he drank too much and fell asleep. Odua, his younger brother, saw Orishala sleeping. He took the materials and went to the edge of heaven, accompanied by Chameleon. He let down the chain and they climbed down it. Odua threw the piece of earth on the water and placed the five-toed chicken upon it. The chicken began to scratch the earth, spreading it in all directions. After Chameleon had tested the firmness of the earth, Odua stepped down”. Source: The MET.

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Height: 28 cm / 30 cm
Weight: 260 g / 230 g