Last modified: 2000-01-07 by antonio martins
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They are essentially tribal flags/ military colors
from colonial times to the present. The UJ in canton is borrowed from
their then colonial masters, the British.
James Ferrigan, 10 Aug 1998
The flags of the Fante-people from Ghana are very special regarding their history and appearance. They form the only example of figurative art on a flat level, that is well known in all Africa, apart from modern African art. More known are the statues and objects, which are figurative of nature, and flat wall- and floor-carpets, which show abstract-decorative patterns; but the Fante flags cannot be compared to anything.
That this people has developed this form of expression may be due to European influence, dating from about three centuries ago. Unusual in the Fante is their tendency yo assimilation, in adopting new elements, which signify an enrichment of their culture. Much more than their neighbours, or whichever other African people they have been in regular contact with Europeans — especially the English and Dutch left their traces, as can be seen in the Fante flags.
Remarkable to the social structure of the Fante is the organisation of their warriors who are called asafos. These were arranged in companies. Each company designed its own flag, which was to express its own power and might and, quite often, the inferiority of the adversary. At special occasions like feasts and funerals the flags were showed and special dances were executed with it. These exhibitions could result in little wars when a depicted prank on a flag caused offense to another party. A competitor could be depicted as a pack of vultures or as a shoal of fish, eating its fill, only to be eaten by the crocodile — the flag's company. Apart from this rivalry proverbs from everyday life could be depicted.
The oldest kept specimens date from the second half of the 19th century, but even today these flags are being made.There are, however, restrictions for replacement of old by new flags. Each new flag has to be approved by the highest authority within the hierarchy and subsequently has to be inaugurated in a special ritual. Flags dating from the time after the English left Ghana in 1956 don't have the UJ in the cantons, like the flags from before 1956, but the own national flag. For determining the age of the flags there are some rude criteria, but exact dating is nearly impossible. The quantity of flags of an early date is limited. The flags have been 'discovered' a long time ago and were described in literature. Several collectioners started to collect them some ten years ago. Nevertheless the flags have led a rather obscure existence. Only now the value is duely appreciated.
The images are striking by their simple, powerful forms; its composition points at a preference for assymetry, which has a dynamic effect.
Jarig Bakker, 22 May 1999, quoting from http://www.ccc.nl/artg/apunto/vlagned.html
For those interested in these Fante Asafo flags, the
book Asafo - Fahnen aus Ghana
[gru95], by E.G. Gruese (1995),
has been remaindered.
Mark Sensen, 22 May 1999
See also ASAFO!, African Flags of the Fante
[adb92], by Peter Adler & Nicholas
Barnard (1992).
James Ferrigan, 10 Aug 1998
This flag is hard to describe, but here goes: a colourful fringed flag
with a Union Jack in the canton. Part of the border is fringed with an
unusual green and white geometrical pattern. There is a large human?
figure below the Unio Jack, gesturing? at a gate? with a padlock? Behind the
gate is another figure by a car. Above the gate in a black field are
the words in white capitals ROAD CLOSE.
David Cohen, 21 Jun 1998
This flag was yellow in color, with white fringe around 3 sides. In the
left corner was a sort of Union Jack... however, this UJ had no blue, only
the white spaces where the St. Andrew should be, with a red St. George's
cross, as it should be. The red was faded and sort of look pink.
In the field there was a representation of a Rooster in black with the
crown (?) on top of in red (faded to pink). In the lower right fly was the
number, in white, "No.1". The "No.1" was sewen on both sides of the flag to
read correctly.
Steve Stringfellow, 10 Aug 1998
The "No1" reefers to the company number and the rooster or
“Clock bird” is a symbol of authority and power, i.e.,
he is the one who decides when things are done.
James Ferrigan, 10 Aug 1998