Ulf Gudmundsen Ere Ibeji African Collection

Ulf Gudmundsen was a writer, poet, and journalist in Denmark with a great interest in the African continent. In particular, this interest manifested itself in his passion for ere ibeji "twin figures" and their significance to the Yoruba people. Twin births are common among this people and occur more frequently than in other cultures. As a result, twins are regarded as extraordinary beings protected by Sango, the god of thunder. They are believed to be capable of bestowing immense wealth upon their families or bringing misfortune to those who do not honor them. Revered as powerful spirits in life, twins are honored with carved memorial figures upon their death. Twin figures were considered sacred and were often kept on a family altar, tended to by the mother of the household. This ritual included bathing and feeding these figures, and they were also anointed with a mixture of oil and camwood, giving old figures a distinct patina

Welcome!