The+Enigma+of+Twinship

The Igbo view twins as "abnormal" and consider the occurence as something which might harm the community. Until the 20th century, Igbo abandoned twins after birth. Afterwards mothers went through rligious rituals which would prevent future twins in the future. It seems hypocritical for the Igbo to pray to Chukwu for fertility, but then find twins as a supernatural curse, but the rationale behind it, in Ohadikie's words, is that "When people ask for rain they do not expect a flood". Other African cultures had similar stigmas against twins. The San killed either one twin or both while the Ashanti gave twins to their cheif. However, when twins of royal blood were born they were killed in order to prevent succession crises and qualms over inheritance.