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In early practices in Yoruba ibeji were not highly
revered. People did not understand why a woman would bear two children
instead of one.
Some believed that the mother was promiscuous, and therefore had multiple
children to represent her partners (1). Others believed that the twins were bad
luck and would bring the family misfortune. To remedy this problem, the twin
babies were killed. Infanticide was a popular practice among the
Yoruba. However, at some point this practice changed.
 By
the mid-18th century a change in practice and belief took place
(4). Some believe this change took place because
foreigners thought infanticide was immoral, other believe that something
occurred within the Yoruba people. The practice of infanticide is unusual in
Yoruba, traditionally children and family were praised in their culture
(2). The change was significant to Yoruba
beliefs and therefore something grand must have happened. By the 19th
century ibeji became
recognized as a symbol of wealth and power or trouble (4). If the
family performed the appropriate rituals, the twins would bring the family wealth, if not
problems would arise
(2).
 The reason for this change is hard to understand
because their traditions are passed orally. There are no written accounts
from an African about this change in practice and belief. However, a
significant event must have occurred in order to change the ibeji tradition. I have collected several oral traditions that
help to explain the origin and the change in practice of the ibeji cult of
the Yoruba people.
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