Their name was changed from Bauole to Chokossi by the Gonja people when they arrived from Côte d'Ivoire. Chokossi means go around something in Twi. It is believed that when the small group of Bauole people arrived from Cote d 'Ivoire they settled with the Gonja people who were then fighting a war with the other Guan speaking people, since the newly arrived Bauoles were warriors, they went around every single village to attack their enemies and subsequently ended up defeating the enemies of the Gonja. After they helped the Gonja to regain their lands, they congratulated them and gave them the name Chokossi, meaning “the Bauoles go around villages before they attack.” From that point the Gonja began calling them Chokossi. In the Chokossi language "Bauole" means "Ba ni awu" or, "the child has died" in English. An example of a phrase from the Chokossi language is "Nyamien Kpile Dafiman." It means "the greatest God doesn't sleep."
Today, most live in Cote d’Ivoire and nearby Ghana. A surprisingly large number live in Italy and Canada.
In Africa, most are farmers. They grow their own food: maize and yams. Yams are so important that they have a yearly yam festival. They sell cocoa and coffee as cash crops. Those who have chickens and goats enjoy eggs, chicken, and goat meat. They also fish and hunt.
One of their favorite games is called Atte. They put an odd number of nuts in a circle and have two opposing teams 30 yards apart tossing nuts at them. When they hit a nut, the nut is removed until there is only one left. The goal is to hit the largest number of nuts. Whichever team hits the most nuts wins.
They have their own pottery and wood carving. Like many ethnic groups of West Africa, the Baules carve sacred masks for ceremonies.
Baule society is surprisingly egalitarian. Some have more power than others, but everyone has a say in decisions, even those with little power or status. This helps them fit in well with egalitarian Western cultures.
Though traditional African religion is still present, there is a strong Bible-believing community for the Baules in each of the four countries where they reside.
The Baules and other peoples of West Africa need clean, potable water. Most need more medical facilities.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in Baule families and churches, drawing into a close, joyful relationship with Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to raise up some to be his ambassadors to those who lack the abundant life Christ offers.
Pray for all their physical and spiritual needs to be met in abundance.
Scripture Prayers for the Baule in Ghana.
Godwin Nguessan Lelar
https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/baule.html#:~:text=The%20Baule%20or%20Baoul%C3%A9%20are%20an%20Akan%20people,the%20Kwa%20branch%20of%20the%20Niger-Congo%20language%20family.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_emigra
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
