Asafo flags-gctid30701

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

ASAFO     FLAGS AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT     © G. F. Kojo Arthur and Robert Rowe -     1998-2001 AKAN     CLOTH         ADINKRA       KENTE    KENTE     CLOTH & MOTIFS     WAX     & NONWAX PRINTS       ASAFO     FLAGS AKUNINTAM                     The asafo is a political-military institution of the Akan.     Even though its social and political functions have been well documented,     the expressive and aesthetic culture of the Asafo institution has received     limited scholarly attention (de Graft Johnson,     1932; Fortes and Evans-Pritchard, 1940; Datta     and Porter, 1971; and Sutherland-Addy,     1998). Sutherland-Addy (1998, p. 90), for     example, suggests that "the rhetoric, libations, historical songs and     chants, praise-poetry, legends and drama texts may now be examined with a     view to demonstrating how they provide the texture, context, impact and     value of historical fact" that mark the asafo     institution.         Even though the Akan societies,     had no standing army, the asafo - i.e., a people's militia - was     a well established social and political organization based on martial principles. Every     able-bodied person belonged to an asafo group; every child automatically belonged to his     or her father's company.         Internal sub-divisions within an individual company included the main fighting body, the     scouts, reserves, and the minstrel unit whose main job it was to sing patriotic and war     songs to boost the morale of the military. ASAFO MEMBERS The asafo companies forming the national army were organized     into main fighting divisions thus: adonten (vanguard -     main body under the adontenhene), twafo     (advance guard), kyidom (rearguard - under the kyidomhene),     nifa (right wing under the nifahene), benkum     (left wing under the benkumhene), akwansra     (scouting division), ankobea (home guard under the ankobeahene),     and gyaase (the king's bodyguard under the gyaasehene).     ASAFO MEMBERS IN THEIR COLORFUL COMPANY OUTFIT                 Asafo     companies were also differentiated by the different colors of headgear and hairstyles worn     by members, exclusive drums, horns and other musical instruments, appellations, and     emblems. Other units within the main divisions included afonasoafoo     (the carriers of spears and shields), sumankwaafoo (the     herbalists and medicine men), and the asokwafo (heralds).     Asafo     companies existed in all the Akan states.                In Asante, the national asafo     was commanded by the Asantehene, but two generals, the kurontire     and akwamu, were the military leaders. The Fantse went a step     further by incorporating some eureurasiaan customs in their Asafo companies.                The typical Asafo company in a Fantse township,     according to Aggrey (1978), was headed by the Tufohene, the     military advisor to the chief of the township. Next in line is the Asafobaatan.     Supi was the commanding officer, while the divisional captain     within a company was called the Safohene (for the male) or Asafoakyere     (for the female). Other ranks in the Asafo were the Asafokomfo     (the priest), okyerema - head of the akyeremafo     (the drummers), frankaakitani (flag bearer), sekanboni     (sword maker), okyeame (spokesperson or linguist), and abrafoo     (police officers) and adumfoo (executioners). Abrafoo - Executioners         Datta     (1972) distinguishes between formal and informal offices, the former being characterized     by a specific ritual with which the assumption of the office was marked. Among these     offices are the tufohene, asafobaatan, supi, safohene, frankaakitani, sekanboni,     and okyeame. These office-holders take the     appropriate oath on the assumption of office at formally organized ceremonies.         The Akan Asafo scouting system is what Baden Powell is believed to have used as the model     for the Scout Movement (Tufuo and Donkor, 1989).         Military titles of honor that were conferred on individuals for their heroism and bravery     included osabarima, baafoo, osahene, katakyie, oberempon,     osagyefo, and ogyeatuo. The akyem     (shield) symbol depicts heroic deeds and bravery. Such heroic deeds were treasured long     after the death of the hero as implied in the following maxim: ekyem     tete a, eka ne meramu (When a shield wears out, the framework still     remains). Akyem - Shield                 The prestigious title of oberempon was     conferred on individuals who not only rendered public service, but also on those who     excelled in military service. In Asante, chiefs who earned the oberempon     title were allowed to carry sika mena (gilded elephant tails).     The highly prestigious title of oberempon     was seldom conferred for other than valor, but later it became one with which     distinguished service to the state might be rewarded. Hence the expression: obarima     woye no dom ano, na wonye no fie, meaning     a man is made facing the enemy on the battlefield, not in the home - not lording it over     women.     POSUBAN - MILITARY POST                                 This posuban (military post) is to be found in           Mankessim, Central Region, Ghana. Other Fantse towns have the posuban.           This posuban (military post) is to be found in                     Ajumako Tekyiman, Central Region, Ghana.           Other Fantse towns such as Anomaboo, Elmina, Kormantse, Ajumako Owane have the posuban.           Agona Bobikuma asafo group in           front of their posuban Picture taken by Arthur 2004                                          Even though the asafo, in     the past had as its primary role the defense of the state, it did perform other social     services. In the present times, the social services performed by the asafo     include serving as a search party when one is lost or when one drowns in a river, public     sanitation, maintain public trails, foot paths and bridges. The asafo     companies also engage in competitions during festivals. ASAFO COMPANY WITH THEIR CATCH AT     THE WINNEBA DEER HUNTING FESTIVAL     Asafo Flag with the Union Jack                  Every able-bodied person was expected to serve a     military duty when called to action. Each township will have at least one asafo     company. One's membership in an asafo company was determined by     one's father's lineage (ntoro - among the Asante or egyabosom     - among the Fantse).                While among the Asante, women did not usually go to     the war front, the Fantse had women who were war captains. The rare case of Yaa Asantewa     of Edweso who led the Asante army against the British in the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, is     well chronicled.      Asafo Flag the Ghana Flag               Asafo     flags are popular among the Fantse of the coastal area. The flag is a cloth of solid color     that is about three feet by five feet in dimensions. The symbols on the flag are appliqued     and occasionally embroidered. The Asafo flag has on it the British       flag (Union Jack) or the Ghana flag. The asafo flag bearing       the Union Jack indicates the flag was made during the time that Britain       ruled Ghana (Gold Coast), and the asafo flag bearing the       Ghana flag indicates it was made after 1957 when Ghana gained her       independence from Britain.                  The asafo flag with its symbols and colors often represents       "important historical occasions in the life of the company or,       unpleasant past events such as wars, deaths and defeats" (Labi,       1998, p. 101). As Sarbah (1906, pp.       26-27) put it, "the honour of his company flag was his first       consideration and his service to his company was his indispensable       service." The asafo flag symbols are pregnant "with meaning by allusions       to historical accounts, myths, rituals, sacred places, and prominent       persons etc., and as such they were essential in the construction of a       company's cohesion, persistence and feeling of exclusiveness; thus, to       defend the cherished symbols was to defend the integrity and pride of the       company" (Labi, 1998, p. 102).     HIGHWAY PATROL The symbols on the flags depict various events and beliefs.     They may serve to record history as indicated by the       three flags shown below:
		The train is ready to go The first railroad from Sekondi to Kumasi was completed in 1903. The train is always ready to go may signify the readiness of the     asafo to act in emergency situations, but the reference to the      train may serve as a record of an historical event.
		Highway patrol This serves to remind one of the     asafo's role in building and maintaining highways and bridges      in the past.
		Women Warriors If your army is no match for our women warriors, don't you dare to face our      men warriors.         This flag depicts women warriors. While among the Asante, women did not usually go to     the war front, the Fantse had women who were war captains. The rare case of Yaa Asantewa     of Edweso who led the Asante army against the British in the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, is     well chronicled.
ELEPHANT AND THE CRAB		ELEPHANT AND THE CRAB The mighty elephant is only felled with a crab.      When the crab gets into the trunk of the mighty elephant, the crab is      able to kill the elephant. One with superior military equipment can be      defeated with superior military strategy.
Okofo Takyi		Okofo Takyi This is the flag of Ampia Ajumako Asafo Company. The flag depicts the      ability of this company to do the impossible - Okofo Takyi can swallow fish      by the tail not by the head.. It is difficult to swallow fish by the tail      with all the fins stretched out.
Picture taken by Arthur at Gyedu, near Mankessim 2004		Frankaakitani      - Flag bearer         The flag bearer is accompanied by a gunner      and sword carrier to guard against being captured by the enemy.
AKAN CULTURAL     SYMBOLS PROJECT