The legend of how the Baoulé got their name is a tragically beautiful one. An Akan people living on the eastern side of Côte d'Ivoire, the Baoulé originally came from Ghana, but were forced to flee circa the 18th century when the Ashanti rose to power. Led by Queen Pokou, the people headed west until they came to the banks of the un-crossable Comoe River. As legend has it, they began tossing their most prized possessions into the river in the hopes that some spirit would take mercy. Realizing that their most valuable asset was her own son, Queen Pokou sacrificed the boy, at which point a great hippopotamus rose up from the water and allowed them safe passage on its back. Having saved her people, but lost her baby, the queen was so distraught, that all she could utter, over and over again, was the word baouli, meaning, “the child has died,” and that is what her people have been called ever since. Read Less