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Asafo

28.07.2019 > 22.09.2019

In the 17th century, on the coast of what is now modern-day Ghana, the Fante people developed a distinctive tradition.

They organised themselves into the Asafo: military groups with their own respective numbers, symbols and designs. The flags created by these artists and image-makers commenced an extraordinary visual practice, today considered one of the most vivid and celebratory of 20th century Africa.

Asafo flags have long inspired artists, curators and designers. Notable advocates include Smithsonian director Gus Casely-Hayford and contemporary artist Kerry James Marshall. Asafo flags are included in the collections of the National Museum of African Art (Washington), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and Quai Branly (Paris).

ASAFO at The Gallery of EVERYTHING features vintage flags from a number of key collections, including that of author and enthusiast Peter Adler. Dates range from the turn of the century until the 1960s.

'Asafo Flags: Stitches Through Time', a history of Asafo flags presented by Heni Talks and narrated by Gus Casely-Hayford, will be screened throughout the exhibition.To preview the video, click here.

For available works, please click here.