Asafo Flag, Bulls, Stork Ghana, African Textile Start Price USD 466.00 Current Price USD 466.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 30, 2008 End Time Saturday, September 06, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about ' Asafo Flag, Bulls, Stork Ghana, African Textile' Description Title: 'Frankaa' Asafo FlagType of Object: Textile, Military company flagEthnic Group: FanteCountry of Origin: GhanaMaterials: Cotton Cloth, with colored appliquéApproximate Age: Pre-1957Dimensions: 35.5 by 60 inchesOverall Condition: Signs of wear but generally good.Damage, Repair: Some holes and tears in places.Additional Information:Among the Fante people of coastal Ghana military companies known as Asafo, began in the past as groups to which men and in some instances women could belong. Most Fante coastal towns had at least one company and larger towns up to ten or fourteen leading to rivalries and conflicts. These companies were politically engaged in the selection of chiefs and identified religiously to their particular military shrine (pousban) that served as a gathering place and centers of activity for these Asafo companies. Each local company is identified by a particular name and number and through a set of symbols displayed prominently on their flags. Commenting upon Asafo flags (frankaa) in the late 17th century Europeans noted the distinct imagery of the flags. These motifs served to identify the Asafo company by giving visual form to the creed by which it wished to be known. Proverbs are given imaginative forms by different colored cutout figures appliquéd upon cotton square approximately a meter by a meter and a half in size and the cloth was generally produced in European weaving mills. To complement the patchwork squares appliqued around the outer border the flag has a kind of fringe Asafo flags have a rough system that can be used to define the date of origin with the British ensign often featured on flags before Ghana achieved independence in 1957. Asafo flags with the Ghanaian ensign in one of the corners indicate that the flag was put together post-independence and thereby after 1957. However this flag with the stylized British "Union Jack" dates prior to the Independence of Ghana in 1957. Much of Asafo flag imagery plays upon traditional proverbs, plays upon popular sayings and subtle references to local histories and personalities. However there are times when it is difficult to interpret the visual representation due to hidden meanings and idiosyncratic communication. The winner is depicting here as a mysterious animal capturing all livestock of the enemy and a unspecified bird "exterminating" fish in water.  Recommended Reading:Peter Adler and Nicholas Barnard, ASAFO! AFRICAN FLAGS OF THE FANTE, Thames and Hudson, 1992Cole, H.M. & Ross, D. “Arts of Ghana”. 1977.Mato, D. “Aspects; Akan Culture in Ghana”. 2002.I have examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **037557** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!