Flag of Benin

The national flag of Benin[1] (French: drapeau du Bénin) is a flag consisting of two horizontal yellow and red bands on the fly side and a green vertical band at the hoist. Adopted in 1959 to replace the French Tricolour, it was the flag of the Republic of Dahomey until 1975, when the People's Republic of Benin was established. The new regime renamed the country and changed the flag to a green field with a red star in the canton. This version was utilized until multi-party democracy was re-established in 1990, coinciding with the Revolutions of 1989. The new government promptly restored the original pre-1975 flag.

Flag of Benin
Not to be confused with Flag of the Republic of Benin (Nigeria) or Flag of the Benin Empire.

Republic of Benin
UseNational flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedNovember 16, 1959 (1959-11-16)
(Re-adopted on August 1, 1990)
DesignA horizontal bicolour of yellow and red with a green vertical band at the hoist.

History

Under French colonial rule over Dahomey, French authorities forbade the colony from having its own regional flag. This was because they were worried that this could increase nationalistic sentiment and lead to calls for independence.[2] However, with the rise of the decolonization movement in Africa, the French were obliged to grant limited autonomy to Dahomey as a self-governing republic within the French Community.[3] This was granted on December 4, 1958, and a search for a national flag began soon after.[4]

The new flag was chosen on November 16, 1959, and remained unchanged when Dahomey became independent less than a year later on August 1, 1960.[5] In 1972, a coup d'état took place in the country, with the new government aligning itself with Marxist–Leninist ideals. In order to symbolize the revolutionary change, the country was renamed Benin and a new flag was instituted three years later.[6] It featured a green field charged with a five-pointed red star in the top-left canton.[7] The new flag was never adopted by law, however, making it only the de facto flag of Benin.[1]

The green flag remained in place until 1990, when economic problems and the weakening of the Soviet Union's power due to the Revolutions of 1989 culminated in the collapse of the People's Republic of Benin. The original flag from 1959 was reinstated on August 1, 1990.[5]

Design

The colours of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. As stated in the national anthem, the green of the flag represent the hope of a new democracy. The red represents the courage of the ancestors, and the yellow is for the treasures of the nation.[8] On a continental level, the yellow, green and red represented the Pan-Africanist movement;[9] the three colours were utilized by the African Democratic Rally, a political party representing the interests of French West Africa in the National Assembly of France at the time of decolonization.[5] Furthermore, the colours are the same as the ones utilized in the flag of Ethiopia.[10] This honours the oldest independent country in Africa and the only nation other than Liberia to remain independent during the Scramble for Africa.[5][11]

Colour scheme
Green Yellow Red
Pantone 341c Medium Yellow 185c
CMYK 100-0-41-47 0-17-94-1 0-96-82-9
RGB 0-136-80 252-210-15 233-9-41
Hexadecimal #008850 #FCD20F #E90929

Historical flags
Flag Years of use Ratio Government Description
1818–1859 Kingdom of Dahomey The royal flag of King Ghezo. It featured a white field with a red border and an elephant in the center.
1859-c. 1890 King Glele was not known to have used any royal flags or banners.
c. 1890–1894 The royal banner of King Behanzin, which featured a light blue field with the coat of arms in the center.
1894–1959 2:3 French Dahomey The French tricolour was used as the official flag of French Dahomey.
1959–1975 2:3 Republic of Dahomey The first flag of Dahomey was introduced on November 16th, 1959, after Dahomey was granted semi-autonomous status within the French Community. It consists of two horizontal yellow and red bands on the fly side and a green vertical band at the hoist.
1975–1990 2:3 People's Republic of Benin A new flag was introduced in 1975, following the 1972 coup d'état and the establishment of the People's Republic of Benin. It consisted of a green field charged with a five-pointed red star in the top-left canton. This is a reversal of the colours of the ruling party's flag.
1990–Present 2:3 Republic of Benin The pre-1975 flag was readopted in 1990, following the re-establishment of multi-party democracy.

Other flags

Military
  • 2:3 Flag of the Benin Armed Forces, obverse side
    2:3 Flag of the Benin Armed Forces, obverse side
  • 2:3 Flag of the Benin Armed Forces, reverse side
    2:3Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Benin Armed Forces, reverse side
  • 2:3 Flag of the Republican Police [fr], obverse side
    2:3 Flag of the Republican Police, obverse side
  • 2:3 Flag of the Republican Police, reverse side
    2:3Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the Republican Police, reverse side
  • Roundel of the Benin Air Force
    Roundel of the Benin Air Force
  • Historical roundel of the Benin People's Air Force (1975–1990)
    Historical roundel of the Benin People's Air Force (1975–1990)
  • Faded mural depicting the national flag in Lissègazoun (2021)
    Faded mural depicting the national flag in Lissègazoun (2021)
  • Flags flown in celebration of Fête du Vodoun in Ouidah (2017)
    Flags flown in celebration of Fête du Vodoun in Ouidah (2017)
  • Beninese men waving the national flag on independence day (2016)
    Beninese men waving the national flag on independence day (2016)
  • Flags outside the Embassy of Benin in Tokyo, Japan (2013)
    Flags outside the Embassy of Benin in Tokyo, Japan (2013)
  • Beninese flags waving outside the Congress Palace of Cotonou (2009)
    Beninese flags waving outside the Congress Palace of Cotonou (2009)
  • Beninese and United Nations flags flown by the Beninese contingent of MONUSCO (2000)
    Beninese and United Nations flags flown by the Beninese contingent of MONUSCO (2000)

See also

References
  1. "National Flag of Benin". World Flags 101. Tsavo Media Canada Inc. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  2. Smith, Whitney. "Gabon, flag of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved May 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  3. Houngnikpo, Mathurin C.; Decalo, Samuel (December 14, 2012). Historical Dictionary of Benin. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810873735. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  4. Background Notes: West Africa, June 2011. U. S. Department of State. July 1, 2011. ISBN 978-1592431304. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. Smith, Whitney. "Benin, flag of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved May 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  6. "History of Benin". Lonely Planet. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. Olukun, Omo (January 13, 1976). "Why did Dahomey change its name to Benin?". Washington Afro-American. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. "Le Drapeau". Government du Benin. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  9. Shaw, Carol P. (2004). Flags. HarperCollins UK. p. 46. ISBN 9780007165261. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  10. Philip, George and Son (December 26, 2002). Encyclopedic World Atlas. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 9780195219203. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  11. Jeffery, Simon (April 27, 2004). "Colouring the outcome". The Guardian. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
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