BAOULE, a short, dark-skinned, animistic people, on the French Ivory Coast between the Comoe and Bandama rivers, who migrated thither from the Gold Coast somewhere about the 16th century, being joined later (c. 173o) by noble families of Ashanti origin ; the Warebo family ruled them for a time but was unable to maintain its authority. They now live in independent villages, formed of extended family groups. There are no special marriage rules and the women enjoy great freedom. Succession passes to uterine brothers, then to nephews and maternal uncles. They practice cultivation, arboriculture and gold-seeking.
See Delafosse, Manuel de la Longue Agni (i900).