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The Yoruba's Cultural Perspective of Death with Special Reference to Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Taiwo O. Olaleye-Oruene
Taiwo O. Olaleye-Oruene*
Affiliation:
The Olabisi Olaleye Foundation.
*
*Address for correspondence: Taiwo O. Olaleye-Oruene, Flat 44, Collingwood House, 99, New Cavendish Street, London W1M 7FQ

Abstract

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To the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria, on the West Coast of Africa, death, or transition from one level of existence to another, is well accepted as part of life. Rites of passage are seen as an opportunity for saying farewell to the deceased and seeking their continuous protection of the living members of the families. After the death of a twin, a twin statuette, symbolically representing the departed twin, also acts as a companion and solace to the living twin. This paper examines these subjects including the special rites performed for twins, the relationship of the family to the deceased and the question of reincarnation

Type
Pre Congress Symposium
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , 01 June 2002 , pp. 154 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002