The Ibeji is a depository for the soul of the decaesed twin and is treated with the same loving care as the living one.

The Yoruba people of Nigeria have one of the highest twin birth rate in the world, but also have a high mortality rate. ​The religious belif that both twins have one joint and inseparable soul and for this reason, if one of the twins should die, the soul of the other would be seriously compromised.

In order to deal with dangers, to bring back the unity of the twins' soul, a small wood statue is commissioned to a carver. This wood statutte is called Ibeji, that means twins in the Yoruba language.