Who are the twins in Santeria?
Who are the twins in Santeria?
The firstborn of the twins is known as Taiwo while the second one is called Kehinde….
| Ibeji | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ibeji or Ibeyi; Jimaguas |
| Venerated in | Yoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism |
| Symbol | Twins |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America |
What are twins called in Yoruba?
In Yoruba culture twins are so common that they are traditionally given specific names. They are called either Taiwo or Kehinde depending on whether they were born first or second.
What is an Ere ibeji figure?
If a twin dies in infancy, the family have a wooden figure carved to represent the dead twin. These carvings are called ere ibeji (‘ere’ means sacred image, ‘ibi’, means born and ‘eji’ means two).
What does Iya ibeji mean?
“Iya ibeji “–mother of twins–is a term of great respect throughout western Nigeria. All Yoruba twins, boy or girl, are named Taiwo and Kehinde. Taiwo, meaning “he who has first taste of the world,” is the first-born.
What are ibeji colors?
| Orisha | Domain | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Ibeji | Twins | White, red (sometimes blue) |
| Dadá and Bayani | Unborn children | Red, white |
| Iroko | Silk-cotton tree | Green, turquoise |
| Aganjú | Volcano | Brown, opal |
Which Orisha is number 11?
Number 11 is considered to be the number of the Ibeji. This is because the twins are complimenting as well as opposing forces. One Ibeji holds the human personality and the other holds the spiritual personality.
Who are the parents of ibeji?
The Ibeji are believed to be the original twins born on this earth and are said to be the orishas of joy, glee, and mischief. The Gemini twins in astrology are also said to be related directly to the Ibeji. The Ibejis parents are, namely, Chango and Oshun.
What happened to Benin between 1650 and 1897?
Brutal fighting dragged on for 10 days till, on 21 February 1897, the British prevailed and burned Benin City to the ground.
What is ibeji art?
Figures like these, called ibeji, are memorials to deceased twins. Their elaborate hairstyles and beaded jewelry mark their honored status. When one twin dies, a single sculpture is commissioned and cared for by the mother and later by the surviving twin. If both infants die, a sculptor creates two images.
Why are the ERE Ibeji twin figures sacred?
Because of this, twins are considered sacred. The ère ìbejì honors the deceased twin. At the same time, by localizing the spirit of the dead twin, the figure is meant to ensure that the living twin does not follow his or her sibling into death.
How does the ERE Ibeji work in art?
The ère ìbejì honors the deceased twin. At the same time, by localizing the spirit of the dead twin, the figure is meant to ensure that the living twin does not follow his or her sibling into death. Once the soul of the deceased has been invoked, the ère ìbejì is treated as a living child; it is washed, fed, and clothed like the surviving twin.
Why do Yoruba believe in the ERE Ibeji?
According to Yoruba belief, every person has a spirit counterpart that is left behind in heaven when he or she is born. When twins are born, it is believed that the bond between human and spirit-double is so strong that the two cannot be separated. Because of this, twins are considered sacred. The ère ìbejì honors the deceased twin.
How is the ERE Ibeji treated as a living child?
Once the soul of the deceased has been invoked, the ère ìbejì is treated as a living child; it is washed, fed, and clothed like the surviving twin. Should the second twin die, another ère ìbejì is created.