Akwa Boni facts for kids

Akwa Boni was a powerful queen who ruled the Baoulé people in what is now Ivory Coast, a country in West Africa. She was the niece of another famous leader, Queen Pokou. Akwa Boni became queen around 1760 and ruled for about 30 years until her death around 1790.

A Queen's Reign

Akwa Boni took over the leadership of the Baoulé people from her aunt, Queen Pokou. Her time as queen was important for her people. She worked to make the Baoulé kingdom stronger and larger.

Expanding the Baoulé Kingdom

During her rule, Queen Akwa Boni helped her people expand their land. They moved across the Bandama River and settled in the central part of what we now call Ivory Coast. This expansion helped the Baoulé people grow and become more influential in the region.

The Story Behind the Name

There is a famous story about how the Baoulé people got their name, and it's often linked to Queen Akwa Boni or her aunt, Queen Pokou. The story says that to cross a big river, a difficult sacrifice was needed. To help her people cross safely, the queen had to give up her own son to the river god. After this sad event, the people were called bauli, which means 'the son is dead'. This story shows the deep sacrifices leaders sometimes made for their people.