Figure

Item number 3501/5 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Standing wood figure (ibeji), with headdress and damaged feet. Nude male stands straight with arms at sides, connected to waist. Flat stomach, with stylized lizard incised across it, under small rounded breasts. Has pronounced buttocks and defined back muscles. Band of concentric diamonds done in relief across upper chest. Wearing bracelet, decorated with diagonal lines, on left wrist. Lines carved along edges of hands, imitating fingers. 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. Hole drilled into remaining 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.