The Asafo, the warrior divisions of the Fante, are loud, proud, and provocative, and their flags reflect their fiery, swaggering spirit.

Their name derives from the term ‘war (sa) people (fo)’ and they surround themselves with curious military pageantry with the flag as a centerpiece. A new exhibition at the Nubuke Foundation displays over thirty such flags from the colonial and independence periods, each belonging to a different Asafo company. Brilliant in color, with a striped border and a small Union Jack or, after 1957, Ghanaian tricolor in a top corner, each Asafo flag communicates a company’s message in the visual language of Fante proverb.

The tradition was heavily influenced by the pomp and processions of European armored units during the colonial era, with the Fante word for flag – “frankaa” – presumed to be either a corruption of the English or of the Dutch, “vlaggen.” The flags share a visual language, each complete with its own appliquéd assemblage of small vibrant figures, wild animals, pots of palm wine, traps, explosions, and serpent-headed monsters. They boast of prowess, mock inferiority, and warn plucky rivals away.

At Nubuke, the galleries resonate not just with a rainbow palette but also with fighting sounds and songs, offering an immersive insight into Asafo culture. The exhibition begins with a number of flags from the private collection of Seth Dei. These include a particularly striking independence-era flag emblazoned with the words ‘God Save the Leader of Ghana,’ perhaps paying homage to Kwame Nkrumah. Dei’s collection exemplifies the breadth of Asafo flag culture, with images of trains denoting speed and technical advance, alongside fearsome monsters and traps, warning of the risks of foul play. His collection includes works from both the colonial era, when the red, white, and blue of the Union Jack dominate the composition, and the independence era, when the designs become decidedly more colorful. Text panels throughout the exhibition inform the visitor about the details of Asafo culture, from the location of the Fante people to their use of decorated shrines or ‘posuban.’

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Nubuke Foundation, Accra 2024