Figure of a female twin (Igbos) made of one piece of wood.
The figures called ibgos are traditionaly made by the Yorubas, one of the largest ethnic groups of Western Africa. The figurines are made when one of the twin children dies. The Yorubas believe that the twins share the same soul, therefore the balance of the survied twin is kept with its help. It is treated as a living person – it is bathed, fed, dressed, and mother always keeps it by her side because it is believed that the soul of the deseased child has moved into this figurine. If both twins die, two figurines are made.
When the figurines are made, neither the authenticity of the presentation of the man, nor the similarity with the deceased child is of vital importance, with the exception of tattoos or scarifications on the face. These are precisely transferred to the figurine. The head of the figurine is usually in the proportion of 1:3 in relation to the body. It is „the most important“ part of the figurine, because it is the head where the soul is considered to be.
