Why many African countries copied Ethiopian empire flag?
Channel: Emperors
Date: 2023-02-19

The colors of green, yellow and red were used for the flag of the Ethiopian Empire in 1914.[1] On 11 October 1897, a year after Ethiopia decisively defeated the Kingdom of Italy at the Battle of Adwa, emperor Menelik II ordered the three pennants combined in a rectangular tricolor from top to bottom of red, yellow, and green with the first letter of his own name (the Amharic letter "ም") on the central stripe.[3][2][4][5][6] The letter of Menelik's name was removed from the flag after his death in 1913. For unknown reasons, the color order was flipped - with green on top, red on the bottom, and yellow remaining in place.[1] The flag's tricolor scheme has existed since the early 19th century, and the colors red, yellow, and green carried special importance prior to that.[7] To commemorate its adoption in 1897, Ethiopia celebrates Flag Day on the first Monday of the month of Tikimt (September–October).[8]

The royal flag often featured the emblem of a Lion of Judah, a crowned lion carrying a cross centered in the banner's yellow midsection. The flag is understood to be a link between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the people, and the nation that was united. The processional cross carried by the lion was the former flag or symbol of Ethiopia and has likewise been in use since at least the early 17th century.[9] Whilst red is currently featured at the bottom of the horizontal tricolor, it was on top until the mid-19th century. What the colors symbolize varies depending on point of view. However, generally, red represents the blood spilled in defense of Ethiopia; yellow represents peace and harmony between Ethiopia's various ethnic and religious groups; and green is said to symbolize hope, or the land and its fertility.[citation needed] The colors had historically been used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (red for faith and power, yellow for the church & peace, and green for natural wealth) prior to their adoption as the colors of the state, likely due to them being easy to produce and common in the Ethiopian landscape.[10] Two French travelers in the 19th century, Ferret and Joseph Galinier, said "red, green, and yellow are the main colors of manuscript illuminations."[11]

Upon gaining independence from colonial rule, several newly-established countries in Africa adopted these three colors in homage to Ethiopia's resistance against foreign occupation. When adopted by Pan-Africanist polities and organizations for their activities, the colors are often referred to as the Pan-African colors.