Asafo flag ·  Ghana, Fante · ID: 3039404

Description

red cotton with applications and embroidery, depicted is a “flag within the flag”, with seven figures, kept at bay by a larger figure swinging a whip, “Union Jack” in top right corner, on wooden frame coated with light beige linen, rep. (various missing parts in the fabric mended);
“asafo” is the name of local military organisations among the Akan peoples of Ghana. Until the end of british colonial times in 1957 so-called “asafo” companies mainly had military functions. The flags show scenic views with close ties to the rich treasury of proverbs, whose purpose in context to “asafo” companies mainly lies in self-adulation or in reduction of competitors. Flags are rarely shown in public, aside from important festivals such as the annual “Fetu-Afahye” festival. “Asafo” companies parade through the streets while the flags are presented by special trained dancers, called “frankaakitsanyi”.

L’objet Asafo flag avec l’ID d’objet 3039404 a fait partie de la vente aux enchères 81st Tribal Art Auction dans 31 octobre 2015. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 289 a atteint un prix de vente de 1 600 € pour un prix d’adjudication de 500 €.

Vous trouverez ici d’autres objets et des informations utiles sur le thème Art africain.

Littérature comparée

Güse, Ernst-Gerhard (Hg.), Asafo, Fahnen aus Ghana, München, New York 1995, p. 26