Flag for Asafo Company No.1 (possibly Bentsir) (frankaa)

DateEarly 20th century (before 1957)

MediumLinen, cotton and embroidery

Dimensionsheight and width (irregular): 39 1/4 × 54 1/4 in. (99.7 × 137.8 cm)
frame: 44 × 61 1/2 × 3 3/4 in. (111.8 × 156.2 × 9.5 cm)

ClassificationsTextiles

Credit LineGift of Charlie Jones

Object number2021.19.28

On View

Not on view

Label TextAsafo military companies play a vital role in balancing the power of paramount chiefs and form the core of local communities. Colorful flags and striking graphics identify various companies at parades, festivals, and holiday celebrations. Their imagery contains biting satire, which, accompanied by taunting proverbs and dance, invoke intercompany rivalry.

Flags with the British Union Jack date prior to 1957; later flags often display Ghana’s national colors (red, yellow, and green). Here, a chicken positioned above a padlock and keys may visualize the associated proverb "We are the lock and the key of the State," asserting the power, importance, and military history of Asafo companies.
Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection Reimagined," December 16, 2024-April 21, 2025. Object Rights Statement

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