(AFRICA) BRITISH RULE Asafo “flag” symbolizing the end of Br

Sale 2408 - Lot 125

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Estimate: $ 2,500 - $ 3,500

(AFRICA.) BRITISH RULE. Asafo 'flag,' symbolizing the end of British rule in Africa. [?] Wine-red flag with white and blue border, 40x60 inches; a native African points something at a small British flag in upper left corner, the flag emits a series of white stars, falling down in an arc to a seemingly explosive golden star on the bottom. Polished cotton and linen; a couple of tiny holes. West Africa, circa 1940's to early 1950's

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An especially nice example of an Asafo flag, typical of the Fante people of the coast of west Africa, once the site of the slave markets of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Asafo flags, or 'banners,' have a long and rich tradition among the Fante people of Ghana. Known for their wonderful textiles, the Fante people's flags incorporate a great many symbols that are drawn from the rich West African 'Adinkra' tradition. These flags originally represented tribal militias or "societies" that included both men and women among their ranks. Each flag's design has a counterpart in some specific folkloric saying, for example, 'the drum makes a loud noise because it is empty.' The present example with the elephant and the British 'Union Jack' probably refers to something to do with wisdom and strength, two of the prime qualities of the elephant, as opposed to the symbol of the Colonial power with falling stars. Provenance: Merton Simpson Gallery to the consignor.