When it comes to buy flags online, it soon become obvious the colors chosen by many countries are the same. In fact, some appear to mimic their neighbors, with the exact colors in the same pattern. The only difference between these flags appears to be an addition of an object in the canton or upper fly. While some resemblances are the result of happenstance, others are deliberate. This is the case with many countries in Africa. They choose to fly what are now considered Pan-African colors.
What are Pan-African Colors?
There are two versions of the Pan-African color scheme. One dates back to 1920; the other is from the 1950s onward. Both arrangements consist of three different colors. The earliest version is red, black and green. The later one is red, yellow and green. There are also some instances where the national flag utilizes all four of the Pan-African colors.
What Do These Colors Symbolize?
Each of the colors symbolizes something of significance to the Black nations and peoples. The meanings are as follows:
- Red: strength, bloodshed to uphold freedom
- Yellow: love of the homeland, mineral wealth, peace and the church
- Green: fertility, hope
- Black: skin color
Earliest Pan-African Flag
When you go to buy flags online, you may note a flag marketed as the Pan-African flag. This particular one came into existence while many of the African countries were still colonies. Created in 1920, this flag is a tri-color of three equal bands of red, black and green, representing, not a country but the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and African Communities League. It often appears in parades and on Martin Luther King Day.
What Countries Fly Pan African Colors?
Several countries have flown and continue to fly Pan-African flags. Not surprising, many of them are in Africa. These generally feature green, yellow and red stripes of various widths. They distinguish themselves through the addition of various items including 5-pointed stars (Sấo Tomé, Cameroon) and even a letter – the R in former Rwanda (1961-2011).
African countries that have or have flown Pan-African flags include the following:
- Angola
- Burkina Faso
- 3. Cameroon – 1957
- Cape-Verde (1975-1992)
- Central African Republic
- Congo – 1969
- Dahomey (Benin)
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau – 1958
- Kenya
- Mali – 1961
- Mozambique
- Príncipe
- Rwanda (1961-2011)
- São Tomé – 1975
- Senegal – 1982
- Togo – 1960
- Uganda –
- Zaïre (1971-1997)
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
You can buy flags online containing Pan-African colors. They provide an interesting and historic perspective of the changing nature of the African landscape.
Looking to buy flags online? A.G.A.S. Manufacturing Group is an online flag store providing all USA States and territories flags at an affordable price.
