Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí, or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of an Orisha representing a pair of divine twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originating from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria).
[1] In the diasporic Yoruba spirituality of Latin America, Ibeji are syncretized with Saints Cosmas and Damian.
In Yoruba culture and spirituality, twins are believed to be magical, and are granted protection by the Orisha Shango.
The parents then dress and decorate the ibeji to represent their own status, using clothing made from cowrie shells, as well as beads, coins, and paint.
Ibeji figures are admired by tribal art collectors and many have made their way into western collections.