A crocodile, set against a vibrant purple background, moves towards a dark pond under the watchful eye of two birds circling overhead. This flag was created for an asafo (militia company) in southern Ghana, and its imagery alludes to the mission of the organization. The crocodile references the militia itself; the pond references the water gods for whom the company acts as a protector. Since the 17th century, newly elected asafo officers have commissioned embroidered and appliquéd frankaa (flags) like this one to decorate their meeting halls, dance competitions, and mock battles. Even after Britain’s colonial occupation ofthe region in the late 19th century, Fante men continued to join asafo groups, which had then transformed into largely social organizations. The British flag in the upper left of this work is a common feature of asafo flags produced prior to 1957, the year of Ghana’s independence.