Flag of the Kingdom of Benin

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Unidentified West African flag
Unidentified West African flag.svg
UseBanner Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion1:2
DesignA red banner charged with two white people, the one to the hoist decapitating the one to the fly with a sword.
Designed byItsekiri people (possibly)

An unidentified West African flag was brought back to Britain by members of the expeditionary force which carried out the 1897 Benin expedition, a punitive expedition against the Kingdom of Benin. According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, which current has the flag in its collection, it was brought to Britain by Royal Navy Admiral F. W. Kennedy. The flag is currently located at the National Maritime Museum, where it is not on display. Debate exists over the actual origin of the flag, including which West African people created it, though it is believed to be of probable Itsekiri origin.

History[]

According to an article written by Nicholas Dean for History Today, the flag was brought back to Britain by members of the expeditionary force which carried out the 1897 Benin expedition, a punitive expedition against the Kingdom of Benin. Debate exists over the actual origin of the flag, including which West African people created it; Dean notes that "little is known of the flag's origins or meaning, nor even if it belonged to or was used by the Kingdom of Benin, though it is believed to be of Itsekri origin."[1] The flag is currently located at the National Maritime Museum, where it is not on display.[2]

The Royal Museums Greenwich also holds a personal flag of Itsekiri chief and trader Nana Olumu which was also recovered by F. W. Kennedy during the 1897 Benin expedition.[3] A now-defunct website for the described the flag as being a state flag of the Kingdom of Benin.[4] However, another online source claimed that the flag is "commonly" mistaken as being an official flag of the Benin Kingdom, claiming instead that it is unknown whether or not the flag was designed by Benin itself or their Itsekiri allies.[5]

Description[]

The original flag at the National Maritime Museum.

The Royal Museums Greenwich, which current has the flag in its collection, describes it as follows:[2]

West African flag probably Itsekri. A red wool bunting flag with a linen hoist, machine sewn with a rope halyard attached. The design is applied in white fabric with painted details, representing a naked man decapitating another with a sword. The flag was said to have been brought back by Admiral F. W. Kennedy from the 1897 Benin expedition. 'Kennedy' is inscribed on a paper label attached to the rope. The Itsekri people acted as middle men between the Edo people of Benin in the interior and the Europeans on the coast - the Edo would not cross or travel on waterways.

The Benin expedition was launched in reprisal against an attack on a British mission in the service of Niger Coast Protectorate by forces of the Oba of Benin. It was a combined naval and military operation under the command of Rear-Admiral Harry Holdsworth Rawson C.B. with local troops and carriers. The towns of Guato and Sapobar were attacked by detached forces while the main part of the expedition marched on Benin. The town was captured and accidentally burnt. Oba Overami, was exiled to Calabar where he died in 1914. The famous Benin bronzes were removed as reparations by the British.

Modern interest[]

In more recent times, the flag has attracted attention for its unusual and highly distinctive graphic design.[6][7][8]

References[]

  1. ^ Nicholas, Dean (12 April 2016). "Lowering the standard: five of history's oddest flags". History Today. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b "West African flag". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Personal flag of Nana Olomu". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Obo'Khian". Institute for Benin Studies. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. ^ "15 Bizarre flags from around the world". UK Feather Flags. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ^ "The World's Greatest Flag". Edwin's Raisin. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ^ Doctorow, Cory (6 October 2009). "Flag of Benin Empire may be the best flag depicting a decapitation in the history of the world". Boing Boing. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ^ Kottke, Jason (6 October 2009). "The World's Greatest Flag". Kottke. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
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