Edan pairs are ritual objects owned by the Ogboni society, an association of male and female elders who decide on important judicial matters. The Edans are male and female figures linked by a chain at the head, or headdress as in this case. They represent the primordial ancestors of Ogboni members serving a number of important functions within the society, and for the community at large. This charming pair have their left fist placed over the right in the traditional Ogboni greeting, which also symbolizes the dominance of the sacred over the secular, as the left is considered the 'domain' of the gods. The Edan are in fact regarded as possessing spiritual power used to decide judicial questions, forecast the future, ward off evil and aid the sick. In this pair the male has a particularly cheerful expression, while the female is somewhat more serious. Both of them are the essence of Yoruba culture revealing hundreds of years of tradition combined with the inventive skill of a talented sculptor.