Figure

Item number 3501/4 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Standing wood figure (ibeji), with headdress, on square base. Nude female stands straight with arms at sides, connected to waist. Flat stomach, with grid of raised squares, below pointed breasts. Has pronounced belly button, buttocks, and genitalia. Lines carved along edges of hands and feet, imitating fingers and toes. Figure has a wide nose, smiling mouth, and intersecting lines carved on each cheek. Eyes have holes drilled into their centres. Ears carved in relief and rest flat against head. Horizontal lines across entire top of head, imitating hair. Tall thin headdress forms an arch, spanning from forehead to nape of neck. Decorated with vertical lines along entire length. Feet rest on circular pedestal, drilled into square base.

History Of Use

Ère Ìbejì is a wooden figure that was carved in honour of a twin who died. Yorubas believe that twins share a soul, so the family was to treat the figure as they would if the twin was still physically present. As a result, the twin was fed, washed and cared for.