sentiment_dissatisfied Twin names
When a twin dies: Fon rituals
In Fon culture, the death of a twin is a major spiritual event. Specific rituals are performed to “elevate” the twin spirit and preserve the family’s balance.
A spiritual rupture
The death of a twin is considered a cosmic imbalance. The Hoho spirit was shared between two bodies: if one dies, the other is “incomplete”.
Replacement hohovi
A wooden statuette (hohovi) is carved to embody the spirit of the deceased twin. It is treated like a living child: it is fed, dressed and spoken to.
Hùn-fínfɛ́n — the elevation
Every year, the family holds a ceremony of spiritual elevation for the deceased twin:
Continuity
The statuette can be passed down over several generations. Some families keep hohovi that are 80-100 years old and still regularly “fed”. A living testimony to the endurance of the cult.
The twin spirit preserved
These rituals show how Fon culture refuses a complete break: even in death, the twin remains present, honored and part of family life.
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