This is the twins’ effigy, it is known as Ère Ìbejì in the Yoruba culture. In many parts of Africa, twins are a set believed to have intertwined destinies and are held as a species of humanity having strong connection with the metaphysical realm. As children, twins are set quite apart from others. They are thought to have special powers to bring good or bad fortune, and, for this reason, their birth is often specially celebrated. If a mother takes her twins set, of course, infants to the market in company of drummers who sings praise songs as she begs for gifts for the twins, people usually offer gifts in order to avoid the wrath of the twins.
In tandem with Yoruba tradition, when a set of twins is born, their parents would consult a priest of Ifa known as Babalawo. The consultation is to unravel the mystery that is on the life path of the babies. The Babalawo prescribes rites or sacrifices or both are often in order to pave the way for the twins’ also to ensure smooth sojourn in life. Such prescribed rites or sacrifices may involve being taken to the market by their mothers to beg for alms; being made to dance round public places; being honoured with parties which could afford them the opportunity of being in the midst of fellow young ones and many more. The mother is to fulfil such wishes as a matter of obligation, else there will be consequences. The first of twins to be born is traditionally named ‘Taiwo’ (which literally means the first to taste the world). This is often shortened to be ‘Taye’. Kehinde is the name for the second born in a set of twins. Despite being the second to the born, Kehinde is believed to have sent Taiwo on an errand; to have foretaste/foreknowledge of the world and report back for Kehinde to set out on her/his own journey into the world, since it is the elder that has the privileged to send younger on errands. Kehinde who sent Taiwo on this errand is traditionally adopted as the older in a set of twins.