Fante Frankaa or Asafo Military Flag

A blue field, a tiny Union flag and two figures arguing quietly with their silhouettes

This frankaa OR ASAFO military FLAG is Fante, from Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is cotton. Beyond defending against hostile neighbors, the Asafo held real political weight, helping choose and enthrone chiefs, and a flag that insulted another company or borrowed its emblems could provoke war. A rectangular banner of patched cloth in pale blue, with a striped red and black flag square in the corner. Two appliqued figures, one dark and one pale, stand beneath it. Frayed fringe edges the border. It is 57 inches wide and 38 long.

Applique with more attitude than most uniforms.