Le corps du guerrier et de son ennemi (mort). (Baoulé, Côte d’Ivoire, XIXe-XXe siècle)

In the Baoulé art of warfare, the body of the warrior has played a fundamental role, both as a weapon and as a primary target. Magical equipment associated with ritualistic practices surrounded the body of the warrior, ensuring his protection by, supposedly, making him invisible or invulnerable. “Mystical things” (clothes, amulets) helped warriors, who also underwent forms of selection to save the forces mobilised at the same time. The body of the slain enemy was normally subject to mutilation, which exposed to the risks of pollution and serious disorder. The murderers then had to go through purification rituals to be able to return to community life without endangering their people.

Keywords: Baoule, Warrior, Body, Ritual, Protection, Murder, Purification.