$950.00
This excellent post-independence Fante Asafo flag from Ghana is a true treasure. A wonderful, highly collectible, decorative art piece that tells of a distinct part of African Colonial history.
Size: 40 x 68"
Stitching: hand stitched/embroidery
Material: cotton applique
Canton: United Kingdom
Proverb: Listen (?)
age: 1970's or 80's
Company: No. 3
Condition: light staining, small holes commensurate with age.
*This particular flag is a post-independence Asafo flag likely dating from the 70's or 80's. *This is a genuine No. 3 company flag: No. 3 company was known to retain the Union Jack canton after independence. Hence, this is not a contemporary tourist flag. Flags of this age and kind are increasingly rare to find. Many older ones of a similar age have been fetching upwards of 10k at auction as less and less come to market and more and more end up in Museum collections.
History:
Asafo flags derive from the militia groups of the Akan people of Ghana; many of whom lived along the coast and traded with Europeans for cloth. Lacking organised military at the time the Fante peoples organised into Asafo ( Sa meaning War and Fo meaning people) units that protected local interests. The Fante culture continues to this day with regular festivals.