Art, Honour, and Ridicule

Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana

ROM’s new exhibition, Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana takes a historical and contemporary look at Asafo flags. These flags are the insignia created for the numerous military Asafo companies of the Fante states along the coast of Southern Ghana. Historically, Asafo companies were in charge of the safety and protection of the local community as well as warfare. Today they act as the vibrant core of local communities. Their flags depict narratives of pride, wisdom, and defiant messages to enemies and are sacred objects depicting the spirit and history of a company.

Featuring stunning handcrafted flags, brilliant costumes, artifacts and stirring videos, Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags of South Ghana, brings life to the amazing stories behind the Asafo flags and the people who conceive and wave them.