This excellent pre-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. This flag depicts an esoteric proverb about driving ants (?) or Scorpions (?) from the homes.
Size: 35 x 66"
Stitching: mix of hand and machine stitching
Material: cotton, embroidery
Canton: United Kingdom
Proverb: unknown
workshop: Unknown - Likely western region
age: 1930's or 40's
Condition: minor holes and staining commensurate with age.
*This particular flag is a pre-independence Asafo flag likely dating from the mid 1900's. Flags of this age and kind are increasingly rare to find. Many ones of a similar age have been fetching upwards of 5-10k 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.
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