Mask - Côte d’Ivoire

Baule (People)

The Baoulé are a people of Ivory Coast, living essentially in the center of the country, near the towns of Bouaké and Yamoussoukro. They represent about 23% of the country's population, which makes Baoulé the largest ethnic group in the country ahead of the Bétés and the Senoufos, who constitute respectively the second and third ethnic groups of the country. The Baoulé are part of the Akan group and originate from the neighboring Ghana. They settled in Ivory Coast in the 18th century, led by Queen Abla Pokou. The name Baoulé comes from the sacrifice, by Queen Pokou, of one of her sons in order to cross a river, as she led her people’s flight from Ghana: “ba ou li” (“the child is dead”). The Baoulé settled between the Bandama and Comoé rivers.

Ceremonial mask, dense with warriors, Baoulé, Ivory Coast