Côte d'Ivoire Early History
Very little is known about the history of Côte d'Ivoire prior to Euroepan contact. The Portuguese explorers of the 15th century discovered and traded slaves and ivory with the inhabitants, but the predecessors of the present population appear to have moved into the territory during the 18th and 19th centuries from the northeast and east. Two groups of Akan descent, the Agnis and the Baoulés, invaded the southeast and the central area of Côte d'Ivoire, respectively.
France began interactions with Côte d'Ivoire in 1637, when explorers landed at Assinie. There was little settlement and minimal foreign presence as a result of the inhospitable coastline and the settlers. fears of the native population, and contact was limited to missionaries until the 1830s, when the French signed treaties with coastal rulers. Still, the political climate of the area tended toward strong tribal government until the 1840s.
In 1843, Admiral Bouet-Williaumez signed treaties binding various territories of Côte d'Ivoire into a single protectorate. Later activity on the part of French explorers, missionaries, trading companies, and soldiers expanded the reach of the protectorate, but the political unit did not truly stabilize until 1915.
LINKS
Some more information about the country and the population:
Library of Congress Country StudyThe Baoulé
~SW