We will rise AGAIN! The cradle of the Bantu!

Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country, located in the centre of Africa. The area that is now the Central African Republic has been settled for at least 8,000 years. The earliest inhabitants were the probable ancestors of today’s Aka (Pygmy) peoples, who live in the western and southern forested regions of the country. The capital city of Bangui, founded as a French trading post in 1889, sprawls on the banks of the Ubangi River. Its official language is French. The current president is His Excellency Faustin-Archange Touadéra.

I feel so speechless and in a mix of moods writing this. It has been a while when the headlines show social unrest and insecurity in the country. For a moment, it became one of the most silent-in-crisis countries for me. However, deep down I still want to land into the beautiful country I know and at least know how the people maintain a high level of resilience and hope for a better tomorrow. The fears of the young people and the worries of the older ones are things that my heart yearns to digest for a moment no matter how emotional that will be. It will be great to also try connecting the long inhabitant history of the Bantu in the area.

While this goes on, let us explore behind-the-scenes of the Central African Republic's national identity. Take a look!

Brief History of the National Flag

1. One of the first flags known in Central African Republic was the flag of the Kanem Empire who settled on the area around c.700. The Flag of Kandem is a white field with an outline of a shield on its side and green tree at the centre, (shown below).

2. In 1885 when part of Central Africa became Congo Free State, which was controlled by Leopold II of Belgium, that an official flag was adopted. This was a blue field with gold five-pointed star, (shown below).

3. In 1910 Central African Republic became a French Colony as part of French Equatorial Africa. The flag was changed to the blue-white-red tricolour and remained that way until independence was granted, (shown below).

4. Between 1976 and 1979 the area became an under ruler Emperor Bokassa I. During this time they kept the same flag and an additional Imperial Standard of Bokassa I, a green field with sun and eagle at the centre, was flown at the same time with the modern day flag adopted in 1958 (shown below).

5. The modern day flag of Central African Republic was adopted on 1st December 1958, (shown below)

Meaning of the Flag

The modern day flag is designed to symbolise the coming together of the French tricolour and the Pan-African colours. It features four horizontal blue-white-green-yellow stripes with a central horizontal red stripe and gold five-pointed star in the right hand corner.

Blue was said to stand for liberty, grandeur, and the sky.

The white was for purity, equality, and candour. Also for bravery.

Green of hope and faith. Also forests of the nation.

Yellow as tolerance and charity. It also suggested its savannas.

Red was for the common blood for all humankind. The link between Europeans and Africans was manifested in the red vertical stripe that traversed the other four colours.

A yellow star appeared in the hoist corner as a guide for future progress and an emblem of unity.

The National Anthem

The renaissance

Oh! Central Africa, cradle of the Bantu!

Take up again your right to respect, to life!

Long subjugated, long scorned by all,

But, from today, breaking tyranny’s hold.

Through work, order and dignity

You reconquer your rights, your unity,

And to take this new step

The voice of our ancestors call us.

To work! In order and dignity,

In the respect for rights and in unity,

Breaking poverty and tyranny,

Holding high the flag of the Fatherland.

_____________________________________

Motto of Central African Republic: Unity, Dignity, Work.

"Take up AGAIN your right to respect, to life". This statement reminds me of the constant willingness of trying as many times as possible. Second or more opportunities always come and we live to always take them up. There are times we lose in a battle after a win. Standing up and holding on again to break the hold of tyranny is a priority.

Random or planned subjection of the citizens to political trauma in different regimes, many are not surprised. A good number having been already left or planning to emmigrate if a chance arises. Compounded by religious differences, its natural resource bank becomes part of the basis for social and political unrest both internally and internationally, and yet unfortunately, counted as one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of the Gross Development Product. This screams a virtually second colonization. My heart sinks at the weight of this and many other hidden hard facts for many wounded people.

However, despite all these social unrests, the people are kind hearted and smart working people. Their zeal to rise and break the ceiling of poverty and tyranny with dignity and unity makes them unique people. It may take long but a cut tree only dies once it is fully uprooted or the roots are infested. As the flag flies over institutions and the country's atmosphere, and the national anthem virtually runs in the blood streams of the people, there is hope for rising again.

Dear Africa, there is still hope for a better tomorrow.

Hey! Thanks for reading through! See you in the next country!

Main refs: flagmakers and britannica.

©Girl of the African Soil