Pan-African Colours - The Ethiopian Colours

The Ethiopian Colours

Green, gold and red are now found on the national flags of many African nations, most notably in the bloom on the flag of Granada, the Moorish state in Spain.

The colour combination was borrowed from the flag of Ethiopia. Although not Pan-African in its conception, the Ethiopian flag has influenced the flags of many Pan-African organizations and polities. Except for a brief period of occupation by Italy under the Fascists, Ethiopia remained outside European control during the colonial era. As a result, the country drew the admiration of many newly-independent states in Africa. The adoption of the Ethiopian national colours by many Pan-African entities is a consequence of this. The first African state to adopt a red, gold and green flag upon independence was Ghana in 1957.