by Emmanuel Mekuria
The green-yellow-red flag appeared in 1897. It was the flag of Ethiopia that became the basis for the panafrican colours. Before the end of the Ethiopian Empire the colours were interpreted as: red for power and faith; yellow for church, peace, natural wealth and love; and green for land and hope. The colours were also interpreted as having a connection to the Holy Trinity, and the three main provinces. At first the flag was used as three separate whimps, and arranged in rectangular shape on 6 October 1897, with red at the top. At some point the order of colours was changed.
The national flag symbolizes the honor and beauty of the Ethiopian nation:
green represents the fertility of the country, yellow the religious
freedom found there, and red the lives sacrificed in the protection
of national integrity. Recently, the Council of Peoples' Representatives
endorsed the proclamation of a new emblem on the national flag. The
new emblem will have a radiant star with equidistant rays to show the
equality of all ethnic groups as well as creed and gender equity. The
shining rays from the star testify to a bright future for Ethiopia,
and surrounding the emblem will be a blue background to denote peace
and democracy in Ethiopia.
