ibeji

{{Short description|Twin Orishas in the Yoruba religion}}

{{About|the Yoruba term|the musical duo|Ibeyi|the record label|Ivo Perelman}}

{{Infobox deity

| type = Yoruba

| other_names = Ibeji or Ibeyi; Jimaguas

| member_of = Orisha

| venerated_in = Yoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism

| image = File:IbejiTwins.jpg

| caption = Pair of Ibeji, authenticated by the Department of Antiquities of Nigeria

| deity_of = Twins, Duality, Joy, Mischief, Abundance, Children

| color =

| region = Nigeria, Benin, Latin America

| ethnic_group = Yoruba

| symbol = Twins

}}

Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí, or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of an Orisha representing a pair of divine twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originating from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria).{{Cite web |last=Ayanwuyi |first=Israel |year=2024 |orig-date=December 14, 2024 |title=Documentary on Ibeji: Identical from Within |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn8YbEgxI6o |publisher=AIF YORUBA CULTURAL CENTRE |format=MP4 |publication-place=Igboora, Oyo |publication-date=December 14, 2024 |via=YouTube}} In the diasporic Yoruba spirituality of Latin America, Ibeji are syncretized with Saints Cosmas and Damian. In Yoruba culture and spirituality, twins are believed to be magical, and are granted protection by the Orisha Shango. If one twin should die, it represents bad fortune for the parents and the society to which they belong. The parents therefore commission a babalawo to carve a wooden Ibeji to represent the deceased twin, and the parents take care of the figure as if it were a real person. Other than the sex, the appearance of the Ibeji is determined by the sculptor. The parents then dress and decorate the ibeji to represent their own status, using clothing made from cowrie shells, as well as beads, coins, and paint.

Ibeji figures are admired by tribal art collectors and many have made their way into western collections. The world's largest collection of Ibejis is at The British Museum, London.

The firstborn of the twins is known as Taiwo while the second one is called Kehinde.{{Cite thesis |title=Acta Genet Med Gemellol 32:221-228 (1983) The Mendel Institute/Alan R. Liss, Inc. Cultic Powers of Yoruba Twins: Manifestation of Traditional and Religious Beliefs of the Yoruba |last=Oruene |first=T.O. |access-date=2025-05-10 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/5848DFE6B6CE89503265B3E19833951C/S0001566000005079a.pdf/cultic-powers-of-yoruba-twins-manifestation-of-traditional-and-religious-beliefs-of-the-yoruba.pdf}} In Yoruba culture the second twin is considered the elder twin; the reason for this is that Taiwo is sent by Kehinde to judge if the world is fit and beautiful before he/she descends, in accordance with Yoruba belief.