Twins,  Ìbejì in Yorùbáland – so special yet so different

Twins, referred to as Ìbejì in Yorùbá culture, as two children born at the same time to the same mother. Scientific studies have explained that twins may share a placenta, though this is not always the case. Similarly, twins may resemble each other physically, but they do not necessarily have to look alike.

The Yorùbá people  place a very great value on twins. As a result, Yorùbá society does not view twins as abnormal or strange in any way. This is why, when historical records reveal that some societies at certain times engaged in the killing of twins, the Yorùbá were never part of such practices. Instead, the Yorùbá celebrate and cherish twins with immense joy and reverence.

The Origin of Twins and the Twin Deity in Yorùbá Culture

It is essential to discuss the mythological origins of twins in Yorùbá culture. According to Yorùbá myths, Yemọja, one of the principal deities, is said to have been the first to give birth to twins. In ancient times, there were no medical means to determine the gender or number of babies in a pregnancy. Thus, when Yemọja gave birth to twins, it was a marvel that captured the attention of the entire community. The people celebrated with Yemọja, showering her with gifts of money and clothes. Over time, she became wealthy and renowned as the mother of twins.

However, tragedy struck one day when Yemọja’s twins tragically fell to their deaths. The loss devastated her, and she mourned them deeply. In her grief, Yemọja decided to carve wooden figures resembling the twins, which she spoke to as if they were still alive. Miraculously, the carvings would respond to her softly, imitating the voices of her lost children and comforting her in her sorrow.

This marked the beginning of the Yoruba tradition of creating twin figurines (Ẹre Ìbejì) to honour twins who have passed away. To this day, Yoruba families who lose their twins often create such figurines as a form of remembrance and spiritual connection and today, the family who have twins also do the same.

The Meaning of Twin Names

In Yorùbá culture, there are about eight key names associated with twins. This article will explain these five names. Beyond the collective term Ìbejì, used to describe both twins together, there are specific names for the twins themselves. Additionally, there are names for the child born before the twins and for the one born after them. Let us explore these names:

1. Kẹ́dunwá:

This name originates from the phrase Kó ẹdun wá (Bring a monkey). In Yorùbá culture, twins are metaphorically compared to a species of monkey. When people hear the term ẹdun in a Yorùbá context, it is often this metaphorical comparison that is implied. Hence, Kẹ́dunwá, derived from Kó ẹdun wá, translates to “the one who brings a monkey.”

2. Ìbejì:

This is the collective name for both twins. The term is derived from ìbí ẹjì (double birth).

3. Táyéwò/Táíwò/Táyé:

This is the name given to the first twin born. Táyéwò originates from the phrase Tọ́ ayé wò (Taste or explore the world).

4. Kẹ́hìndé:

This is the name given to the second twin born. It is derived from the phrase Kẹ́hìn dé (The one who arrives last).

5. Ìdòwú:

This name is given to the child born immediately after the twins. The exact origin of this name remains uncertain, but it is widely used in Yorùbá culture.

6. Àlàbá:

This name is given to the child born immediately after the Ìdòwú. Àlàbá is the second child born after a set of twins. It origin is also unknown, also used widely in the Yorùbá culture.

7. Ìdògbé:

This name is the name given to the child born immediately after Àlàbá. Ìdògbé is the third child born after a set of twins.

8. Ìkòkò:

This name is the name given to the child born immediately after the Ìdògbé.

The Concept of “Akẹ́hìndégbẹ̀gbọ́n”

The Yorùbá believe that among twins, the one born last (Kẹ́hìndé) is the elder sibling. There are two main explanations for this belief.

1. The first is that Kẹ́hìndé sends Táyéwò into the world to explore it first before following afterward. This aligns with the Yorùbá belief that when two people travel together, the younger one typically walks ahead, while the elder stays behind to offer guidance.
2. Another explanation is based on the positioning of twins in the womb. It is believed that the twin who exits the womb first was actually positioned deeper inside, requiring the second twin to step aside for them to be born first. This reasoning is compared to two rats that ran into a hole, where the one that enters last is the first to exit.

Igbóọrà: The Town of Twins

Igbóọrà is a town in Ọ̀yọ́ State, located in Yorùbáland, renowned as the place with the highest twin birth rate in the world. Igbóọrà is approximately a four-hour drive from Lagos. In the town, it is almost impossible to find a household without at least two or three sets of twins.

Although the exact reason for the high prevalence of twins in Igbóọrà remains unknown, but it has been widely attributed to a particular type of soup loved by the Igbóọrà people which is known as ìlasa. Ìlasa is a traditional Yorùbá soup made from tender jute leaves (ewé ilá) and enhanced with a small quantity of melon seeds (ègúsí).

To this day, the town continues to celebrate its unique heritage with an annual Twins Festival. The Ọ̀yọ́ State Government has officially recognized and supported this festival.