Nothing embodies the spirit of cultural transcendence that is the legacy of the African Diaspora quite so poignantly as the exquisitely carved twin figures, called ibeji by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. These figures represent an African tradition that was so heartfelt and deeply ingrained that it was able to survive the Middle Passage. Despite slave owner efforts to Christianize slave populations and to isolate them from the practices associated with their religious and personal freedom in Africa, the use of ibeji as memorial figures continues in Africa and in the African Americas today.  

For the Yoruba, a mother of twins is indeed doubly blessed. With the birth of her twins, comes the family’s ability to attain a better life through the aid of these special children who are considered close to the gods. As is often the case in Africa, and in life, good fortune can turn to disaster if it is not handled properly. The Yoruba believe that special ceremonies must be performed, praise songs sung, and special foods be served to twins so that they can maintain their favor with the gods and hence that of their family.

The Yoruba people are widely known as having the highest naturally occurring rates of twinning in the world. Unfortunately, the mortality rate for twins is also high. If the birth of twins is cause for great celebration, the passing of a twin is cause for great mourning. If one or both of a pair of twins dies, the family will consult a diviner who may say that a small wooden figure must be carved to contain the spirit of the lost child. The figure resembles what the child might have looked like in the prime of life—had the full promise of its birth been realized.

Cathartically, the grieving Yoruba mother traditionally cares for the carved ibeji figure as she would have cared for her real child— it is carried home tied in its mother’s wrapper as she sings and dances to praise it. When home, it is caressed, offered food, anointed with oils, and spends the night on a mat in its mother’s bedroom, wrapped in a cloth to keep it warm.

To see an ibeji figure with features that have been nearly rubbed away to a rich patina, is to witness the constant caress of a loving mother whose love could not be diminished, even in death. Doubly Blessed showcases approximately 90 figures, presenting the finest examples from public and private collections across the United States. The exhibition is curated by George Chemeche, an artist who was initially struck by the simple elegance and serenity of ibeji. For nearly forty years, he has visited major collections around the world to investigate the formal qualities and ritual function of these personal sculptures.  

The opening of this exhibition in New York coincided with the publication of a new, comprehensive book, entitled Ibeji: The Cult of Yoruba Twins. Edited by George Chemeche with contributions by Yoruba artist Lamidi O. Fakeye and art historians John Pemberton III and John Picton, this book has become the definitive text on ibeji.  

Doubly Blessed: The Ibeji Twins of Nigeria toured to the following venue: Newcomb Art Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana (2005).