CLASSIFYING  VILLAGE/ WILDERNESS DICHOTOMY

• Large forest trees are not allowed to grow in the village due to shallow roots  which can be felled in storms.  These trees also are considered to be the abodes of dangerous bush spirits. Almost no sculpture is carved from such wood.

• No tree considered a wild bush tree is normally allowed to grow in the village; only village trees- small fruit and shade trees, especially mango and orange- are planted.

• Things of the bush are forbidden to enter the village; acts proper to the village are forbidden in the bush. This includes whole plants with roots or whole bunches of plantains. These must be cut apart at the village edge. This also includes drinking water.

• Village animals are only killed as sacrifices or to fulfill some special obligation to another person, while wild bush animals may be killed at any time.

• Village spirits  do not accept bush animals as food offerings. Bush spirits, however may be given the meat of game animals.

• Because sexual intercourse is a social act it is forbidden outside the village. Suicide, though rare, is likely to occur in the wilderness, usually by hanging from a tree.

   Baule  •  Village Wilderness Activity •  Other Village Wilderness Views  •  Intermediate Space  •  Art 

 AFRICAN ART HOME  •  INTRODUCTION •  EMBODIED SPACES  •  INSCRIBED SPACES  •  SPATIAL TACTICS    • SOURCES  • GLOSSARY OF TERMS •  MAPS •