The Baoule Tribe of West Africa

Queen Awura (Aura) Pokou governed one branch of the Akans mighty Ashanti kingdom, which travelled towards the southeast region of the bead Coast during the earlier part of the 18 century (qtd. in Laufer 42). Brought about by a conflict of leadership, wherein she sullen down efforts to unite with the Ashanti confederacy in the present day Ghana, Pokou enjoin her kin south towards the Komoe River banks. Once she asked the priest regarding the dangerous river crossing the sept were about to embark on, the priest told her that if she offered a sacrifice, her group can lucky cross the river.Pokou then offered her son to be sacrificed, crying out the terminology Baoulithe child is dead (qtd. in Laufer 42). From then on, Pokous descendants came to be known as the Baoules (Baule or Baol). The group successfully crossed the river and finish the savanna that rests on the opposite side. It was the start of a tribe which dwell the central region situated between the Bandama and Komoe r ivers. Ultimately, the Baoules absorbed many of the preexisting tribes of the region. As a result, they grew to be the most powerful and largest tribe of the Ivory Coast.Even if the Baoules lost a great deal of their political influence in the 19th century, they argon still the largest tribe of the Ivory Coast to bodyguard (Steiner 90 Uwechue 66). The tribe moved westward from Ghana at the period the Asante assumed power some three hundred years ago. The narrative of how they escaped from such rule lives on in oral traditions. Pokous male descendant did not left the place she founded. He is regarded as the nominal king of the Baoule tribe (University of Iowa). The tribe is one of the ethnic groups of westbound Africa. The Baoules speak Twa (Yakan 227).Their language is a branch of the Kwa. The Kwa is a branch of the Niger-Congo family of African languages. Being an Akan group, the Baoules have tribal affiliations with several groups past the Ivory Coast, curiously the Akan grou p of Ghana. The Senufo, Guro, Gan, Dida, Ari, Anyi, and Abbe (Abe) tribes are among the Baoules neighbors (Yakan 227). Fishing, animal husbandry, and agriculture serve as their oral sex economic activities (Yakan 227). A chief as well as a council of elders govern every village. Such rulers represent different lineages.Matrilineal lineages are observed in the Baoule culture (Lovejoy 175). A chief or king heads the Baoule tribes highly centralized system of government. The position of the chief of king is inherited (Colin 105). Several sub-chiefs manage the local inhabitants under the jurisdiction of the king. each of the chiefs greatly depend on their political advisors assisting them in the decision make process. As a principal cover association, the Goli group is responsible for the brotherly order among the tribe (University of Iowa). Baoule art is presented in different mediums.Among them is figure and mask carving which is heavily influenced by the tribes Guro and Senufo neighbors. Other forms of media are wooden sculpture as well as brass and deluxe casting, resembling the tribes Asante heritage (Steiner 90). Similar to their fellow Africans, the Baoule tribe is famous for their wooden sculptures celebrating their unoriginal beliefs (Yakan 228). By tradition, the Baoules believe in a world of spirits. Likewise, they believe in the ancestor cult (Yakan 228). The hierarchy of reputation idols and worship of their ancestors are structured in the religion they practice.Images of spirit spouses as well as nature spirits are normally sculpted. They regard Alouroua as their creator. However, their creator god is in no way physically represented ever since (University of Iowa). plant life Cited Baule Information. 3 November 1998. University of Iowa. 7 March 2009 . Colin Legum. Tribal Survival in the advanced African Political System. The Passing of Tribal Man in Africa. Ed. cock C. W. Gutkind. Leiden, The Netherlands E. J. Brill, 1970, 102-112.Lau fer, Guida. Women Rulers Throughout the Ages An Illustrated Guide. Santa Barbara, California ABC-CLIO, 1999. Lovejoy, Paul E. Transformation in slavery A History of Slavery in Africa. New York Cambridge University Press, 2000. Steiner, Christopher B. African Art in Transit. New York Cambridge University Press, 1994. Uwechue, Raph. Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War Facing the Future. British Columbia Trafford Publishing, 2004. Yakan, Muhammad Z. Almanac of African Peoples & Nations. Edison, New Jersey Transaction Publishers, 1999.