Have you ever heard of the name Yadesa Bojia before? How many of you know that the flag the African Union is using at the present day was designed by an Ethiopian origin; US citizen artist?
In fact, for many of us, including myself, both the name Yadesa Bojia and the designer of the AU flag are unfamiliar. However, when the flag of the Union is recounted, the name of the talented and gifted artist appears at the front.
Yadesa Bojia is an Ethiopian-born American artist and graphic designer.
During the 8th African Union Summit which took place in Addis Ababa on 29 and 30 January 2007, the Heads of State and Government decided to launch a competition for the selection of a new flag for the Union. They prescribed a green background for the flag symbolizing hope of Africa and stars to represent Member States, as documents revealed.
Pursuant to this decision, the Muammar Gaddafi-led African Union Commission (AUC) organized a competition for the selection of a new flag for the African Union.
In turn, the African Union Commission (AUC) received a total of 106 entries proposed by citizens of 19 African countries and two from the Diaspora. The proposals were then examined by a panel of experts put in place by the African Union Commission and selected from the five African regions for short listing according to the main directions given by the Heads of State and Government. Lastly, the work of Yadesa Bojia won.
In late 2009, Yadesa was watching the Larry King’s show on television. In the meantime, he saw his flag projected behind the president of the African Union, Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya; and learned as he was the winner of the competition.
According to African Union Handbook (2020) the current African Union flag was adopted in July 2009 at the Assembly of Heads of State 17 and Government 13th Ordinary Session, held in Sirte, Libya (Assembly/AU/Dec.267 (XIII)).
The design is a dark-green map of the African continent on a white sun, surrounded by a circle of five-pointed gold (yellow) stars, on a dark-green field.
As to the Handbook, the green background symbolizes the hope of Africa, and the 55 stars represent Member States.
World Atlas also stated that the African Union had set out two requirements for the flag’s design: a green background and stars to represent the member states. The design incorporated all these aspects with a green Africa as the centerpiece of the design.
The color green was chosen to represent the hope and belief in a bright future for the African Continent and its people since it is traditionally associated with agricultural prosperity, Africa’s backbone.
The map of the African continent rests on the sun’s rays which are in white showing Africa’s commitment to be part of the world and forge lasting friendships and peace with all the nations of the world. A ring of golden stars circles the map to represent the member countries. The stars are in gold which stands for each country’s wealth and prosperous future.
On January 31, 2010, when the inauguration ceremony of the flag was held in Addis Ababa, Yadesa received his award after two years he had submitted his design for consideration.
While talking in relation to his work and the award, Yadesa said: “I had wanted my design to be “forward-looking” rather than to dwell on the past. The flag is meant to symbolize “a new day for Africa” as well as “unity, hope and prosperity” for the African Union.”
He added that if there is anything that took him by surprise, it was the level of feeling regarding an Ethiopian design being chosen as the flag to represent all of Africa. “I did not realize the amount of pride that it brought to Ethiopia,” he said, clearly pleased.
As he stated, he sketched out four or five ideas before deciding on a final design. And of course lastly, he succeeded in sketching a design that can entice the hearts and minds of Union’s juries. He designed the flag the African Union is currently hoisting.
The award, as documents stated and many people uttered, has brought him special opportunity for Artist Yadesa. It has enabled him to increase his visibility in the art world and his presences in various social and political matters.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2022
