Ibedji twin from Nigeria. Old piece over 40 years old.
Knowing that in Yoruba country, there is 1 twin birth every 22 births (1 in 80 in the rest of the world...) the systematic murder of twins and their mother did not promote population growth.
This attitude changed suddenly in the first half of the 19th century. Nowadays, at their birth, they are associated with supernatural powers. They are able to bring happiness, health, and prosperity to their families. They must be treated with respect and consideration. They are one soul and if one dies, the other is in danger because the soul is unbalanced. Great misfortunes can affect the family. This balance must be restored by having an Ibeji sculpted which will be the physical seat of the soul of the deceased.
The Ibeji is therefore the guardian of the soul of the dead twin. For this reason he is treated with the same loving care as the living twin. When, for example, the mother breastfeeds the living twin, the Ibeji is also positioned on the other breast; when the child is cleaned and washed, the Ibeji is similarly washed and subsequently coated with a reddish mass, called Camwood, which is a mixture of crushed red wood and palm oil.
The mother will take care of the Ibeji, washing them, feeding them, caring for them, carrying them on her back during parties or visits to the family, and keeping the statuettes near her bed for the first few years.