| Textile
Resources
Home Page here
Asafo gallery - view
Asafo flags we have for sale here
Asafo Links:
Superb introduction
based on new research here
Asafo page from the
Akan Cultural Symbols Project here
Flag
in the Detroit Institute of Arts
Flags of the World
Asafo page
The Asafo
Duelling Banners - a
Smithsonian magazine article here
Asafo References:
Adler,P. &
Barnard,N. (1992) Asafo ! African Flags of the Fante -
illustrates a great collection.
Güse, E-G. (1995) Asafo,
Fahnen aus Ghana - German exhibition catalogue, nicely presented
collection with a few spectacular pieces.
Heymer,K. (1993) Tanzende
Bilder - another German catalogue, shows many of the same flags, but
different text and some interesting old photos.
Labi, K.A. "Fante
Asafo Flags of Abandze and Kormantse" in African Arts XXXV (4)
2002
Ross,D. (1979)
Fighting With Art - this is source of most subsequent books and
articles.
(c)Duncan Clarke, Version
6/09/2008 |
|
The
Fante (often spelt Fanti) people live along the coast of Ghana
to the west of Accra in fishing villages such as Anomabu,
Saltpond, Mankessim, and Elmina, and in the town of Cape Coast.
Elmina was the site of the first major European settlement in
West Africa with the construction of St.George's Castle by the
Portuguese in 1492. Over the centuries that followed the region
was a centre for slave trading and the Fante became key
intermediaries between the slavers and the peoples of the
interior such as the Asante. Asafo "companies"
developed as military organisations of young men in the Fante
villages, adopting flags and other European-inspired regalia
which they gradually modified for local use. As well as
defending the village against local enemies and incursions by
the Asante, the two or more companies in each community
developed intense local rivalries, which were acted out during
festivals and other ceremonial occasions. The active fighting
role of the Asafo companies ended with the British colonial
takeover late in the nineteenth century, but they remain key
associations in the ritual life of Fante villages.
Posuban
shrine of Asafo No.2 company in the village of Kromantse. Photo:
D.Clarke, 2002
Each
company has a central shrine, called a posuban,
which is generally an elaborate concrete structure decorated
brightly colored figures, and which serves as a store for
regalia and a focus for sacrifices. Flags, called frankaa,
are a key item of Asafo regalia. Each man who wishes to join the
society commissions a new flag from the local flag maker,
usually giving him instructions as to the design. The imagery on
the flags asserts the wealth and prowess of the company and
explicitly challenges rival groups. Often the design alludes to
proverbs, reflecting the importance of proverbs throughout Akan
culture. At annual festivals, funerals for company members and
other occasions flags are hung around the shrine and paraded
through the village. Although the exact origins of Asafo flags
are unclear, there are reports of their use dating back at least
to the early 18th C. Flags made before Ghanaian
independence in 1957 have a version the British Union Jack flag
in the corner, after that date some incorporate the Ghana flag
instead. Flags are still being made and used as an important
part of communal life in Fante villages today. Since the 1990s
their direct and striking imagery has also made them highly
collectable outside Ghana.
Flag
depicting whaling, early C20th. Author's collection.
To View
Our Asafo Flags CLICK HERE
|
|
|
