code: 2026-CF-*5

a rare, carved wooden statue, depicting a male twin figure, known as:

Ere Ibeji 

made by a subgroup of the Yoruba People, the

Gbongan - Modakeke People from the Osun area

The Yoruba Peoples regard twins as extraordinary beings protected by Shango, 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, twins are honored with carved memorial figures when they die. 

"Twins: double trouble, twice blessed"

This male figure has a partial open braided coiffure, with some traces of blue colouring,

small ears, large and closed eyes,

his facial marks: 6 unbroken lines going from the temple downwards in corner on to the cheeks, and three vertical stripes under the eyes, this is the

Keke or Gombo style of Abaja / scarification of Oyo marks,

scarifications on his abdomen: 3 chevron shaped lines,

arms free carved, elbows low posistioned, his hands with big flat thumbs,

hands resting on the very square and broad hips, very short legs, flat feet,

standing on a plinth,

 he is wearing a bead bracelet,

condition: firm, very nice smooth patina, 

a wood crack on the right side of his head and neck, a crack on the back from the right of his neck to his armpit and an old termite hole under the base

- do see all pictures - they are part of the description -

age: unknown, probably mid 20th Century, 

      height: circa 23,3 cm / circa 9.1 inch

weight: circa 278 gr.

to compare, see: Doppel-Leben, Ibeji, Zwillingsfiguren der Yoruba, a catalogue of the exhibition in Hause missio Aachen, 1993 - page 104 and plate 68, the left figure, there you can read that

Gbongan-Modakeke twin figures usualy do not have scarification marks, this one does and is therefor rare.

Please note: we are no experts on the subject of tribal art, we have done some limited and unprofessional research, trying to attribute this statue to a land, country, tribe, culture or people and judged the age to the best we could - before bidding or buying do judge for yourself the tribal affilation and the correct age before bidding or buying - we are selling this item "as is" and we will not accept returns if the buyer finds that we are wrong concerning these matters.

- do see our other items or visit our shop for more Ibeji figures and tribal art -