There is probably no equivalent to the edan in western culture; and so, appreciation of a pair such as this handsome example comes mainly from aesthetic channels, which is in itself sufficient for enjoying them. They are wonderful and strange, staring at the world with imperturbable composure, serenely watching the passing of time with their large almond eyes. They were made for the Osugbo society, which is one of the most important Yoruba institutions comprising the eldest and wisest male and female elders of a community. The edan symbolically represent the primordial ancestors, linked at the head, bound together for eternity. They are invariable, solid and profound, just as is the wise judgment of the Osugbo whose members serve in courts of appeal. The figures themselves are believed to contain great power or ase, possessing the ability to bless or curse someone depending upon their will. They symbolize what is best in Yoruba society, ideals that are as unchangeable as the mountains and the stars.