Another belief is that twins look alike. When it
comes to twins, at times it is hard to tell the two
apart. Because of that, they are therefore regarded
as an anomaly. Evans-Pritchard portrays Nuer
twins as ambivalent and dangerous. Evans-
Pritchard has also compared Nuer twins to birds.
Basically, the reference is to their system of pairing
and closeness, just like birds.
Yet another belief is that twins have some spe-
cial powers that may be evil. But of the two, one
is believed to be the good twin, whereas the
other is the evil twin. Perhaps this explains why
twins can fight and also why sometimes one is
killed when the other is spared. The idea is that
the evil is eliminated while the good is preserved
for the good of society.
Although many cultures regard twins as dan-
gerous, in some countries, such as Cameroon,
they are highly respected. Minyi mothers of twins
are given respect and ritual. Cameroon has the
highest number of fraternal twins in the world.
Due to the influence of Christianity, twins are
considered a gift from God. They are symbols of
power and prestige. Some regard them as a
delight, but many still feel they are a problem.Tabona Magondo ShokoFurther Readings
Arthur, A. (1998, January 11). Nature and Nurture.The
Washington Post.Retrieved July 20, 2006, from
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/
longterm/twins/twins1.htm
Diduk, S. (1993). Twins, Ancestors and Socio-economic
Change in Kedjom Society.Man, 28 , 551–571.
Evans-Pritchard, E. E. (1956).Nuer Religion. New York:
Oxford University Press.678 Twins