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Culture Baoulé

Alain-Michel Boyer
"Primitive art Ivory Coast».

At first, 20 in. Baule tribe numbered about 1 million people. This tribe is part of the Akan tribes living east of the Ivory Coast. In the past, Akan created a series of kingdoms and city-states, which have gradually occupied the whole region of forests up to the Gulf of Guinea. In the 18 th century. This nation under the leadership of Queen Ably Poku was forced to retreat westward to the shores of the river Comoé. To members of the tribe were able to cross the river, the Queen prinasla to sacrifice his son, and that the victim gave the tribe its modern name - trunk means "child died". They live by the laws of the tribal matrilinearnogo type. At the new place the tribe undertook to develop the gold veins. New civilization, formed after the relocation, is a synthesis of Akan culture and customs of assimilating indigenous peoples of the region.

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In the early 20 century. Gold Rush and the subsequent colonization led to the destruction of the state Akan. Administrators area of POSAY Baule, that "the territory in a state of complete anarchy, the constraints which are the traditions, customs and common sense. In the view of the public administrator was inherent extreme individualism, tolerance, deep otvryaschenie to rigid political structures, the absence of the phenomenon of initiation and circumcision, the lack of priests. Each village was independent from the others and decide for itself its own problems under the leadership council of elders. Everyone participated in the discussion of issues, including the slaves. Society was egaliteristskoe.

Social organization was based on the family in the broadest sense, which amounted to of tin . If you lived in the village of several families, was chosen the richest, most eloquent and the most cunning resident, who was instructed to solve everyday problems with compre council of elders. Political unit was the village, but the leader had no right to insist on the decision, if it was not approved by a majority of residents, he had no means of coercion. Often, the leader of the functions performed by women.

Were collected numerous legends about the creation of the world, the deluge, caused by flooding of the river Bandama, on the transition of the river and the conquest of the country Gomoe Baule. Animal-hero of the people - a spider, miserly, cunning and evil, but at the end of history, he always defeated and punished.

Baule revered god-creator of the world Niamey, which has no material form. God is the protector of the earth Azi people and animals. There are many spirits, endowed with supernatural powers. The world really is opposed to the spiritual world blolo, from which come the souls of newborn babies, and where these souls return after death. Religion is based on the idea of death and immortality of the soul. Ancestors are honored, but never portrayed. In the past, the concept of natural death was absent, so it was necessary to identify the culprit: during ritual two men at the head of which lies the body of the deceased, led by the spirits, moving in a circle. Man, in which rested the feet of the deceased, was declared responsible for his death. He was subjected to the test venom. In order to double the deceased could continue to live, he brought in zhurtvu women and slaves. Inherit the deceased were his udinoutrobnye brother or sister, as "never be sure that you - indeed a child of your father."

Rituals constantly changing: mnogda any member of the public could see a prophetic dream or cover an attack of madness, during which he spoke through the mouth of the spirit, which explained the new rules of ritual and supplies needed for its execution, and these instructions were very specific - described the vestments , hairstyle, posture - until the ritual scars on the statues, which were to be made (C, Vogel, 1981).

Wooden sculpture and masks allow closer communication with the supernatural world. Statues Baoulé designed for two types of worship: one depicted the spiritual "husband", to appease in a personal home each set altar. Every man has a wife tribe blolo Bihan , and every woman - husband bolo Bihan , accompanying them in all travel. The remaining pieces are cut to serve as a receptacle of the spirits of nature ( Asi Ouzou )

For Baule characterized by population mobility and, accordingly, works of art. Moreover, these trips give rise to zakza new sculptures in other villages, from the masters that came from other studios, whose style is different from local masters. Often the artists themselves go to the villages and sell their products.

Masks Baoulé have multiple functions: one symbolizing beauty ( Gba Gba ), others defend the village from outside opastnostey ( Bon amuen ), double mask celebrates the marriage of the sun and the moon ...

Craft of the sculptor is not inherited, it is an individual choice or sovvet spirit, resulting in sleep or in a fit of insanity. In carefully dressed and always personalized items also produced a large number of standard - gongs, clubs.

Sculpture Baoulé characterized by a certain realism, it reflected the ideal of beauty that people - rounded ankle in women with long arms togkimi fingers. Harmoniously arranged hair plaited into many small braids. Beard also sometimes braided and always very neat and tidy. There are also figures of monkeys, more or less realistically done. Often, these monkeys are kept in the clutches of the bowl or pestle. On the destination of these figures there are different versions: some argue that they are necessary in the performance proritsatelskogo ritual, while others - that they protect from evil magicians, and others - that they represent a deity who protected agricultural labor or the spirits of the jungle.

Sculpture Baoulé exist in considerable numbers, but the masterpieces are rare.