Ibeji figures, carved by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, are wooden twin sculptures holding cultural significance in Yoruba beliefs. Twins are viewed as possessing supernatural powers, and if one twin passes away, the other may face misfortunes. In response, the Yoruba have established a tradition of caring for twins, creating Ibeji figures to represent the deceased twin, believed to house their soul. Treated as living beings, these figures are fed, clothed, and celebrated on special occasions, embodying both child and adult attributes. The Ere Ibeji are associated with the Yoruba Thunder God Shango. Carved in a stylized manner with intricate details, Ibeji figures are considered powerful entities believed to bring good fortune and protection to the family. Today, these figures are highly valued by collectors for their cultural significance and artistic beauty within the realm of African art.
Decorated with Tukula Powder. Tukula is a vivid red pigment made by grinding the heartwood of tropical trees. Two species particularly valued for their red heartwood are Camwood (Baphia nitida) and African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii). The wood is ground in a mortar, such as this example, until it becomes a fine powder, which is then mixed with palm oil to form a versatile paste.
Tukula paste has traditionally been used as a textile dye, pigment for carved objects, and cosmetic. When baked, the paste hardens into blocks known as bongotol, which may be elaborately decorated and presented as funerary gifts.
Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1908s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado).
Item #104 on pg. 74
and color plate 7
157292
