|
Tribe Snapshots Baule |
| Location: |
Central Côte d'Ivoire |
| Population: |
400,000 |
| Language: |
Baule (Akan cluster of Twi) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Senufo, Malinke, Guro, Asante |
| Types
of Art: |
The Baule create art in several media, including
wooden sculpture, gold and brass casting similar
to their Asante ancestors, and mask and figure
carving, which have been greatly influenced by
their Senufo and Guro neighbors. |
| History: |
The Baule belong to the Akan peoples who inhabit
Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Three hundred years ago
the Baule people migrated westward from Ghana
when the Asante rose to power. The tale of how
they broke away from the Asante has been preserved
in their oral traditions. During the Asante rise
to power the Baule queen, Aura Poku, was in direct
competition with the current Asante king. When
the Asante prevailed, the queen led her people
away to the land they now occupy. The male descendant
of Aura Poku still lives in the palace she established
and is honored by the Baule as their nominal king. |
| Economy: |
The Baule grow yams and some maize as primary
crops. They are also exporters of cocoa and kola
nuts, which are grown on local plantations using
large numbers of exploited migrant laborers, most
from Burkina Faso. Many locally grown crops were
introduced from the Americas during the Atlantic
slave trade. These include maize, manioc, peppers,
peanuts, tomatoes, squash, and sweet potatoes.
They also raise farm animals including sheep,
goats, chickens, and dogs. Markets which are primarily
run by women take place every four days and are
the center of the local economy. Local produce
and craft items are sold alongside imported goods
from all over the world. |
| Political
Systems: |
The Baule have a highly centralized government
with a king or chief at the top who inherits his
position along matrilineal lines. There are various
subchiefs in charge of his local populations,
and all the chiefs rely on political advisors
who help in the decision making process. The Goli
association is the primary mask association, which
provides social order among the Baule. |
| Religion: |
Religion includes both ancestor worship and
a heirarchy of nature gods. Nature spirits and
spirit spouses are often represented in sculpture.
Their creator god is Alouroua, who is never physically
represented. |
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