A Baule statue, M'bahiakro region, Côte d’Ivoire. The torso is elongated yet harmoniously integrated with the limbs, creating a poised vertical presence. Scarification marks are rendered in fine, rhythmic patterns across the face and torso, and the coiffure rises in structured tiers, reflecting regional hairstyling conventions and social identity. The surface bears a warm, dark patina indicative of ritual handling and sustained devotional use. M’bahiakro lies in the eastern sector of the Baule cultural zone, within the transitional forest–savanna belt of central Côte d’Ivoire. Historically integrated into the network of Baule chiefdoms that emerged during Akan-speaking migrations of the eighteenth century, the region developed as an agriculturally productive and politically active area. Yam cultivation, later cocoa production, and regional trade contributed to systems of wealth display and artistic patronage. While not as prominently cited as major Baule court centers such as Toumodi or Sakassou, M’bahiakro formed part of an interconnected sculptural landscape in which workshop lineages transmitted carving styles across villages. Artistic production in this eastern Baule zone reflects both adherence to classical Baule aesthetics and subtle regional inflections influenced by proximity to Akan groups of eastern Côte d’Ivoire and western Ghana. Central to Baule sculptural philosophy is the concept of idealized beauty as a reflection of moral balance, composure, and spiritual harmony. Baule statues attributed to the M’bahiakro area adhere closely to the classical aesthetic canon of central Côte d’Ivoire Baule carving while exhibiting subtle regional inflections. These works are distinguished by harmoniously balanced proportions and a compositional clarity that privileges vertical equilibrium. The facial planes are smoothly rounded, with a high domed forehead that signifies intelligence, moral composure, and cultivated character within Baule aesthetic philosophy. Compared to more overtly court-centered examples from major Baule political hubs, figures from the M’bahiakro region may display slightly elongated torsos and a more noticeable linear emphasis in scarification patterns. Coiffures sometimes exhibit greater vertical lift, lending a subtle sense of upward movement. These characteristics suggest a synthesis of courtly refinement and localized workshop vitality. DSC09492