Baoulé oral tradition tells the story of Queen Abla Pokou, who led her people from the Ashanti kingdom in present-day Ghana in the 18th century. Fleeing political conflict, they encountered the Comoé River in flood. To save her people, Queen Pokou sacrificed her only son to the river, which then calmed, allowing them to cross. The people cried "Ba-ou-li" (the child is dead), giving rise to the name Baoulé.
After settling in central Ivory Coast, the Baoulé established multiple independent kingdoms with sophisticated political structures. Unlike centralized monarchies, Baoulé society featured numerous chiefs with checks and balances, creating a complex political landscape that influenced modern Ivorian governance.
The Baoulé are renowned for their artistic traditions, particularly wooden masks and sculptures that rank among Africa's finest art. Baoulé gold weights, used historically in commerce, demonstrate mathematical precision and artistic creativity. These traditions continue in contemporary Ivorian art.
The Baoulé have been prominent in Ivorian national politics, with Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Ivory Coast's founding president, being Baoulé. The language and culture continue to influence Ivorian national identity, education, and the arts.