Queen Pokou (Poku) (c. 1730–1750) - She was Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe in West Africa, in what is today the Ivory Coast. She ruled over a branch of the powerful Ashanti Empire as it expanded westward

Queen Pokou (Poku) (c. 1730–1750) - She was Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe in West Africa, in what is today the Ivory Coast. She ruled over a branch of the powerful Ashanti Empire as it expanded westward. Also known as the Akan people, they became the ancestors of the largest tribe of modern Ivory Coast. According to legend, Queen Pokou and her faction broke away from the main Ashanti Confederacy after succession disputes and led her people westward towards the Komoe River. To ensure they cross the river safely, she had to sacrifice her own s0n by throwing him into the river. This sacrifice is the reason behind their name Baoule, which means "the child is deàd".