Baule Standing Aura Poku Female Figure With Beaded Necklace Cote d'Ivoire

The Baule people are part of the Akan ethnic group, originally from the region that now spans Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Approximately three hundred years ago, the Baule migrated westward from Ghana due to the rise of the Asante Empire, a significant event in their history. The narrative of their separation from the Asante is preserved in Baule oral traditions, which recount the struggles of their queen, Aura Poku, against the expanding Asante kingdom. When the Asante ultimately triumphed, Aura Poku led her people to the fertile land they now inhabit, establishing a new home for the Baule.

This migration and the subsequent foundation of the Baule kingdom are crucial elements of Baule cultural identity, encapsulating themes of resistance and resilience. The tale of Aura Poku's leadership and the Baule's defiance against Asante authority are central to their cultural and artistic expressions. Over time, the Baule people have maintained a connection to their founding matriarch through both historical remembrance and the continued veneration of their royal lineage.

Today, the male descendant of Aura Poku resides in the palace that she established and holds a nominal position as the king of the Baule. This continuity of royal authority, though symbolic in its contemporary form, reflects the enduring respect and cultural pride the Baule place in their historical roots and the legacy of their queen. As an art historian, one can see how the Baule's artistic expressions—especially their sculptural works, including royal regalia and commemorative masks—embody the profound connection between the people and their storied past, maintaining a living link to their heritage through visual culture.

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