Ewe Venavi figure
The statuettes feature twins called Venavi, the Ewe counterpart of the Ibedji or Ibeji twins of the Yoruba. The Ewe are renowned for their fabrics as well as for their small wooden dolls called venavi or venovi used, as with the Yoruba, to protect the remaining twin following the death of the first twin.
This type of traditional art statuette was also used as children's toys and sometimes even as fertility dolls by women who placed them under their mattresses. Young women could also wear them under their clothes to promote fertility.
This African statue shows clear and repeated evidence of ritual use.
01364
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 15 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- High ritual use
The statuettes feature twins called Venavi, the Ewe counterpart of the Ibedji or Ibeji twins of the Yoruba. The Ewe are renowned for their fabrics as well as for their small wooden dolls called venavi or venovi used, as with the Yoruba, to protect the remaining twin following the death of the first twin.
This type of traditional art statuette was also used as children's toys and sometimes even as fertility dolls by women who placed them under their mattresses. Young women could also wear them under their clothes to promote fertility.
This African statue shows clear and repeated evidence of ritual use.