A striking Asafo company flag banner featuring a bold rendition of the British Union Jack above a long, tapering textile panel. Constructed from appliquéd and stitched cotton, the design reflects the distinctive visual language of the Asafo military companies of coastal Ghana, where flags served as emblems of identity, rivalry, and power.
The Union Jack references the long period of British presence along the Gold Coast, a symbol frequently adapted and reinterpreted within Asafo flags to convey authority, alliance, or satire. Below, the elongated banner panel with a central yellow heart gives the piece a distinctive ceremonial presence. The motif often used within Asafo imagery to convey loyalty, courage, or devotion.
Mounted on a wooden carrying staff with red fringe along the flag’s edge, this banner would have been carried in procession during festivals, funerals, and public gatherings. The bold graphic composition and weathered patina speak to the dynamic history of Asafo performance and community display
Size: 1' x 3'9" [31cm x 114cm]
Age: 1st half of the 20th Century
Origin: Ghana
Type of Textile: Asafo Flag
Material: Cotton
Condition: Good
TX679
