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Why many african flags have the exact same three colors?

Pan-Africanism

Many African flags have similar colors or the same colors because of the historical context and the influence of Pan-Africanism.

During the era of decolonization in the 1950s and 1960s, African leaders envisioned a united Africa and saw themselves as part of a larger African entity. They believed that unity was crucial for Africa to regain its lost glory and overcome the legacy of imperialism and colonization.

The Pan-African Organization played a significant role in promoting unity among black people, both within Africa and in the diaspora. Pan-African conferences were held in various cities around the world, and leaders emerged from these movements.

Marcus Garvey, a black rights activist in America, championed the idea of a separate nation in Africa for black Americans. He designed a flag with the colors red, black, and green, representing bloodshed, the continent, and its people, respectively.

The Influence of Ethiopia

The flag of Ethiopia played a significant role in influencing African flags. Ethiopia was never colonized and successfully resisted Italian colonization attempts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its flag, consisting of red, yellow, and green, became a symbol of African resistance and defiance against European powers. The colors of the Ethiopian flag, along with the Pan-African colors, were adopted by many independent African countries as they gained their freedom.