The great frequency of twin births and the heightened infant mortality rate have found sculptural expression in the yoruba territory through ibeji figurines. Twin figures ere ibeji humanities jama jama network. Carved and painted as a man and woman wearing beads. Ija ibeji latest yoruba music 2016 drama ija ibeji is an interesting musical drama about two sisters born of the same mother despite being twins have intense hatred for each other. Feb 18, 20 the ibeji, or twinfigures of the yoruba people from nigeria and benin, are well known within the pantheon of traditional african art. Ibeji the cult of yoruba twins is an excellent reference book on the ibeji figures and contains hundreds of images and lots of information. The rooms were designed to represent the culture of various ethnic groups that settled in allegheny county and are supported by these cultural groups and governments. If the family performed the appropriate rituals, the twins would bring the family wealth, if not problems would arise. African ibeji wooden female twin figure invaluable.
The ibeji twins download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. These sculptures, which may represent one or both of a pair of twins who have died, are familiar in the yoruba culture, which has one of the highest rates of twin births in the world. Odaran ibeji latest yoruba nollywood movie star naijapals. Buy yoruba ere ibeji twin doll figure nigeria african art. Eyes are rhomboidal, with a deep horizontal groove and.
Yoruba ibeji figurine 2 nationality rooms university. The numerous deities of the yoruba religion are usually the subject of a yoruba carvers work. They bring joy, happiness and abundance to their followers. These figures are carved to represent an ideal type within the yoruba criteria of beauty and. The worlds largest collection of ibejis is at the british museum, london. Their effigies, made on the instructions of the oracle, are among the most numerous of all classes of african sculpture. But despite the fact that this carving can serve as a receptacle for the spirit of the dead child, ere ibeji figures do not look like children. Ere ibeji figures yoruba peoples article khan academy. Like the marrassa of the vodun pantheon and even the gemini when dealing with astrology, they are both correlated to the ibeji.
Historically, indigo dye was used to color the hair of ibeji figures. The ere ibeji might also be decorated with camwood powder, blue paint, beads, shells, and precious textiles. The encyclopedia of the ibeji, by fausto polo, is a new book, with contents completely different from the catalogue of the ibeji. Female figure, one of a pair of ere ibeji figures, made in southwestern nigeria. Twins are considered sacred by birth among the yoruba people. Statues free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The wooden figures are carved in a stylized representational manner displaying the aesthetics important to the culture to include a large conical head with expressive eyes and facial features and a straight stout posture. The catalogue of the ibeji leaded to the identification of the place of provenance of the ibeji based upon some carving details of the statuette. An ere ibeji is a wooden carving of a male or female figure once used by the. Yoruba ibeji statues shea rodgers bronze cast from 12th century origin of ibeji twin statues largest ethnic group in africa a lot of different art forms located in southwestern nigeria many different groups with unique styles twins regarded as dangerous good twin and bad twin. The firstborn of the twins is known as taiwo while the second one is called kehinde.
Collection owner richard simon shows one of his favorite pair of twins. Wood with traces of blue pigments nigeria, early 20th century yoruba peoples pair of ibeji twin figures, male and female depiction, wearing hats the arms carved away from the body, the hands resting on hips. A special class of these wooden sculptures, extensively studied in recent years, is that of the ere ibeji, or twin figures cover. Yoruba ere ibeji female twin figure nigeria african art. Twin figures are prominent in yoruba culture due to the high birth and mortality rate of twins. The nationality rooms are located on the first and third floors of the university of pittsburghs cathedral of learning. May 07, 2018 ibeji figure nigeria 12 h 19th century provenance ex george chemeche ex pace primitive gvr archive contact us for more information back to. The great frequency of twin births and the heightened infant mortality rate have found sculptural expression in. Yoruba, pair of ibeji twin figures, nigeria, early 20th. A fine old pair of male ibeji figures ibarapa region nigeria size 27cm price. The yorubas ere ibeji figures are a haunting reminder of deceased twins. Because the old ibeji figures are valuable, the yoruba now carve substantive ibejis and transfer the soul of the old ibeji to a new figure so the old one can be sold.
The yoruba tribe has the highest rate of twin births in the world. If the babalawo ascertains a spiritual cause, he will help the parents find a carver to create an ere ibeji figure. Since the late nineteenth century, indigo has largely been replaced by cheaper, more readily available pigments such as. Collection of ten yoruba ibeji figures liveauctioneers. The figure is thought to be a focal point for the spiritual energy of the deceased twin who, according to yoruba traditional thought, resides in. You can get updates on new and latest uploads by clicking the subscribe button above. Ibeji figures are admired by tribal art collectors and many have made their way into western collections. Carved doors and house posts are found in shrines and palaces and in the houses of important. Up for sale are two vintage, hand carved, wooden, twin male statues. Since 2002, liveauctioneers has made exceptional items available for safe purchase in. In view of this reality, mothers often commission a carver to create a small wooden figure ere ibeji to serve as a repository for the soul of the deceased. Carved wood with attached personal ornaments including glass bead necklaces and girdles, metal armlets and strings of cowries attached from the wrists. In yoruba culture the second twin is considered the elder twin.
The other eye, and the eyes of the other statue, are missing the nail. A history of the world is a partnership between the bbc and the british museum that focuses on world history, involving collaborations between teams across the bbc, and schools, museums and. Odaran ibeji latest yoruba nollywood movie star we hope you enjoy all our movie as you watch them. The ibeji, or twinfigures of the yoruba people from nigeria and benin, are well known within the pantheon of traditional african art. The ibeji also called ibelli, ibeyi, meji, melli or jimaguas is the orisha of the divine twins. Though the cause of the high rate of twin births among yoruba women has not been established, the cultural grieving process is well documented and may be observed in the carving of a figure known as ere ibeji, which both represents the lost child and serves as a ritual point of contact with the soul of the deceased. Yoruba ere ibeji twin doll figure nigeria african art. The yoruba people, numbering over 12 million, are the largest nation in africa with an artproducing tradition. Such figures are considered a point of access to the spirit of a departed twin and an icon of status for a mother of twins. A handcarved wood yoruba style ere ibeji or twin figure, originating from nigeria, west africa. African, yoruba, wood, female figures, ibeji, 9 inch. Igboora, a little town in oyo state, has been nicknamed twin capital of the world because of its unusually high rate of twins that is put as high as 158 twins per births. Ija ibeji latest yoruba music 2016 drama naijapals.
The welfare continue reading ere ibeji spirit of the twins. A rare collection of african tribal art figures are coming to auction in the uk on july 11. Buy online, view images and see past prices for african ibeji wooden female twin figure. While there are two individuals when twins are born, the ibeji is one orisha. A very old single ibeji from the town of ede, in the oyo tribe region. Yoruba, pair of ibeji twin figures, nigeria, early 20th c. Painted blue hair, wood, glass, ceramic beads and cowrie shells.
The change was significant to yoruba beliefs and therefore something grand must have happened. Join facebook to connect with godwin ibeji and others you may know. Horse and rider and twin ibeji figures are also dominant motifs of the yoruba carvers in nigeria. Ver mas ideas sobre yoruba, objetos africanos, orishas yoruba. Male ere ibeji figure made from carved wood, with traces of red pigment on the body, and necklace of black and pink glass beads. All items are unconditionally guaranteed authentic. Click download or read online button to get the ibeji twins book now. Yoruba ere ibeji figure male in my collection from the igbuke, oyo region of yorubaland in nigeria see map and other examples from this region further down on this page 11 inches tall wood, pigment, beads, metal insets in the eyes missing in one eye ex david baker collection, london. All the ibeji are guaranteed authentic by the expertise of fausto polo.
For various african peoples it fits naturally into the sphere of the animal realm, where multiple births are. The word ibeji or erin ibeji the actual statues, is composed of two words, ibi and eji. A pair of 20th century african carved wooden ere ibeji twin figures from the yoruba region of nigeria. These figures are carved to represent an ideal type within the yoruba criteria of beauty and in the prime of lifeneither a child nor an old person. Feb 18, 20 the twin cult the birth of twins is always and everywhere greeted as a special event.
By the 19th century ibeji became recognized as a symbol of wealth and power or trouble. The ibeji was carved by the known carver abogunde, working at the end of the 1800. Sharon pruitts african art history class twins for the yoruba people are considered a blessing and a burden at the same time ulrich 2. Antique yoruba tribe ibeji twin figures hand carved wood. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Its not a very long article and its worth the read. If you own the encyclopedia of the ibeji you can find similar example in the photo n. The yoruba are known for having an extraordinarily high rate of multiple births. Yoruba ibeji statues and aesthetics by shea rodgers on prezi. Since the late nineteenth century, indigo has largely been replaced by cheaper, more readily available pigments such as laundry blue. The figures are cared for by the mother as her living children. Carvings include figural shango dance wands, kneeling eshu figures and representations of other gods. The mother provides ritual care to the figures, bathing, dressing, adorning, and feeding them.
According to him, these two have visible character easily understood by the audience. Due to the high mortality rate among twins, yoruba mothers are frequently faced with the death of a cherished child. Yoruba ibeji figurine 1 nationality rooms university. An ere ibeji is a wooden carving of a male or female figure once used by the yoruba. These figures, known as ere ibeji literally meaning ere. Invaluable is the worlds largest marketplace for art, antiques, and collectibles. Ere ibeji spirit of the twins chief yagbe awolowo onilu. In yoruba religion it is thought that about two generations after death, every human soul has a chance to return to earth in the body of a newborn, mostly within the same family. Ibeji mi 2019 latest yoruba blockbuster movie starring ronke oshodi oke enjoy the latest yoruba blockbuster movie ibeji mi starring ronke oshodi oke, akin lewis, bidemi kosoko, sola gaji and many more. Ibeji archive contains the largest existing collection of photos of ibeji. Yoruba peoples female twin figures, or ibeji, nigeria, each of the identical wood figures wearing a skullcap with crest above a face having high arc. Ibeji mi 2019 latest yoruba blockbuster movie starring. Male figure, one of a pair of ere ibeji figures, made in southwestern nigeria. Ibeji figure nigeria 12 h 19th century provenance ex george chemeche ex pace primitive gvr archive contact us for more information back to.
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