Like other Akan peoples, the Baoulé have a society structured by family and village. Descent is traditionally matrilineal: lineage membership, and the inheritance tied to it, pass through the mother. Women play a major role in family and community decisions, as the memory of queens such as Pokou and Akwa Boni also symbolises.
The Village, Chiefs and Elders
The village (kro, found in many place names such as Yamoussoukro or Dimbokro) is led by a chief assisted by a council of elders. The Nanan settle disputes, uphold custom and represent their community, from village to canton and tribe (see The Kingdom & Sakassou). Village names often combine a founder's name with the word kro.
baoule.ciSocial organisation, the role of women and elders, birth, marriage and funerals on baoule.ci →Life's Great Moments
- Birth: the child receives a name tied to the day of birth, birth order and circumstances (see Baoulé Names).
- Marriage: a matter for families as much as for individuals, accompanied by rites and exchanges between lineages.
- Funerals: major social events that bring families together, sometimes over several days, with dancing and drums (see Goli & Dance).
From Village to City
Since the twentieth century many Baoulé live in Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, Abidjan or abroad. Ties with the home village remain strong, notably through gatherings such as Paquinou, when "children of the village" return to take part in local development projects.
Abusua: Uterine Kinship
Social organisation rests on the matrilineal lineage (abusua): inheritance, clan membership and succession to positions of authority pass through the female line, from maternal uncle to sister's son. Ceremonial stools, vessels of the ancestors' souls and symbols of authority, embody this lineage and are the object of strict cult. Anthropologists nonetheless note a strong tendency toward bilaterality in daily practice (land, residence, domestic life), with elements of patrilineality.
Councils of Elders and "Fa" Divination
In villages executive power is exercised by councils of elders, guardians of social order and customary memory. They often use Fa divination to consult the spirits before deciding: a gerontocratic and spiritual form of democracy. The Baoulé make up about 15% of Côte d'Ivoire's population.