Togolese Republic
UseNational flag and ensign
Proportiongolden ratio (φ)
Adopted27 April 1960
DesignFive equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; with a red canton bearing a white five-pointed star
Designed byPaul Ahyi
Children and teachers with the Togolese flag
Flag of Togo on an outdoor flagpole

The flag of Togo (French: drapeau du Togo) is the national flag, ensign, and naval jack of Togo. It has five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow. There is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner. It uses the pan-African colors of Ethiopia, but the design resembles the flag of Liberia, which itself echoes the flag of the United States, making it part of both the pan-African and Stars and Stripes flag families.

History

The flag was designed by artist Paul Ahyi and approximates a golden rectangle closely.[1] Ahyi was regarded as among the greatest of African artists of his generation. Born in Togo, Ahyi graduated from the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts[2] in Paris in 1959 and returned to Togo. He designed the flag of Togo while working on other contemporary works.[3] The flag was adopted on 27 April 1960, and is still in use. During France's rule over Togo from 1957 to 1958, the flag of French Togo was used. After Togo's independence, the first Flag of Togo was used from 1958 to 1960.

Symbolism

The four colors (green, red, white and yellow) are the pan-African colors.

The colors of the flag are meant to symbolize the following:

  • Red represents blood shed by Togo's freedom fighters
  • White star represents hope
  • Green represents the forests, agriculture, nature, and overall hope for the future
  • Yellow represents the natural resources of the country

The five stripes represent the five regions of Togo.

Geometry

The sides of the flag of Togo are in the golden ratio φ = 1+√5/2 ≈ 1.618034. As of November 2023, this makes it one of two national flags in active use with an irrational proportion, the other being the flag of Nepal.

Historical flags

Flag Years of use Ratio Government Description
1884–1914 2:3 Togoland Protectorate The flag of the German Empire was used as the official flag of German Togoland.
1916–1957 2:3 Territory of Togoland The French tricolor was used as the official flag of French Togoland and, from 1955, the Autonomous Republic of Togo.
Autonomous Republic of Togo
1957–1958 3:5 A new flag for Togo was introduced in 1957, consisting of a green field with a French flag in the canton and two five-pointed white stars, one on the lower hoist side and one on the upper fly side.
1958–1960 3:5 The French flag in the canton of the previous flag was removed in 1958.
1960–Present 1:φ Togolese Republic The current flag of Togo was introduced upon gaining independence from France on April 27, 1960. It consists of five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; with a red canton bearing a white five-pointed star.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Flag of Togo". FOTW.us. Flags Of The World. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
  2. ↑ "Paul Ahyi of Togo joins roster of UNESCO Artists for Peace". United Nations. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  3. ↑ Décès de Paul Ahyi, le Picasso africain (French) Le Telegramme
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