The Ethiopian Flag (Flag of Ethiopia): Colors, Lion of Judah Flag, and African Symbolism
Learn about the Ethiopian flag – the green yellow and red flag of Ethiopia – its history from the Lion of Judah flag of the Ethiopian Empire to the modern Ethiopia Africa flag that inspires other African flags and the Rastafari flag.
National Ethiopian Flag (Flag of Ethiopia)
Adopted: October 31, 1996 • Ratio: 1:2
First Adopted
October 6, 1897
Current Design
October 31, 1996
Emblem
Golden pentagram on blue disc
Significance
Pan-African inspiration
The national Ethiopian flag is one of the oldest in Africa and a proud emblem of the nation's sovereignty. This flag of Ethiopia is a horizontal tricolour green yellow and red flag (sometimes described as a green red and yellow flag) with a central blue disc bearing a golden pentagram star. These Ethiopia flag colors have held special meaning in Ethiopia for centuries, and the modern tricolour flag was first adopted in 1897 after Ethiopia's victory over Italy at Adwa.
The current Ethiopia Africa flag design, introduced in 1996, reflects Ethiopia's commitment to unity and peace after a long history of political change. The Ethiopian flag and its green-yellow-red colors have inspired many other African flags as a symbol of anti-colonial resistance and African independence, which is why it appears so often in collections of all African flags images.
The green, yellow, and red colors of Ethiopia's flag are rich in symbolism, though interpretations have varied over time. These colors were long used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and have become deeply meaningful to Ethiopians and people across Africa.
Green
- • Fertile land of Ethiopia
- • Labor and development
- • Hope for prosperity
- • Richness of the earth
Yellow
- • Hope and justice
- • Equality among people
- • Peace and harmony
- • Religious freedom
Red
- • Blood and sacrifice
- • Heroes who defended freedom
- • Strength and struggle
- • Faith and power
The Blue Disc and Golden Star
Blue Background
Represents peace and the sky above Ethiopia
Golden Pentagram Star
Symbolizes the unity and equality of Ethiopia's ethnic and religious communities. The five points radiate outward with rays, indicating a bright future and shared prosperity for all peoples of the nation.
Pan-African Symbol
Because Ethiopia maintained its independence through the colonial era, its tricolour became a Pan-African emblem. After World War II, many newly independent African states (beginning with Ghana in 1957) adopted red-yellow-green in homage to Ethiopia's resistance to colonial rule. For African peoples and the global Black diaspora, the Ethiopian colors came to signify African pride, anti-colonial struggle, and hope for freedom.
Historical Ethiopia flag from the Ethiopian Empire period under Emperor Menelik II – an early green yellow and red Ethiopian flag design.
Ethiopia's tricolour flag traces back to Emperor Menelik II, who on 6 October 1897 combined traditional Ethiopian pennants into a rectangular flag of red-yellow-green stripes (top to bottom) with the Amharic letter "መ" (for Menelik) on the center. This historic adoption came after Ethiopia's decisive victory over Italy at the Battle of Adwa, cementing the nation's independence.
The Lion of Judah Emblem
After Menelik's death in 1913, the letter was removed and the stripe order was reversed to green-yellow-red (green on top) for reasons unknown. The Lion of Judah, a crowned lion holding a cross, soon became the flag's central emblem for official purposes.
Classic Lion of Judah flag emblem used on the imperial Ethiopian flag – the famous lion of Judah flag associated with Rastafari flag designs.
Symbolism of the Imperial Flag:
- Represented Ethiopia's Solomonic dynasty and its link to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
- The Lion of Judah symbolized the biblical lineage from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
- Served as Ethiopia's banner from Menelik through Emperor Haile Selassie (except 1936-1941 Italian occupation)
- Was legally codified in 1932 and inspired many African nations after World War II
Historical Note: The old lion flag remains iconic and is still revered by groups like Ethiopian monarchists and the Rastafari movement. Under Haile Selassie, the tricolour with the lion came to stand for Ethiopia's ancient independence and became a powerful symbol of anti-colonial resistance worldwide.
Plain green-yellow-red Ethiopia flag used during the early Derg period (1975–1987), a simple Ethiopian flag design without emblem.
The Ethiopian revolution of 1974 ended the monarchy and brought a socialist military junta known as the Derg to power. Upon deposing Emperor Haile Selassie, the Derg removed the imperial Lion of Judah from the flag – initially modifying the lion emblem by removing its crown and replacing the cross with a spear, and soon after discontinuing the emblem entirely.
Plain Tricolour Era (1975-1987)
From 1975 onward, a plain green-yellow-red tricolour (with no symbol) was used as the national flag during the Derg regime. This simple design represented a break from imperial tradition.
People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987-1991)
PDRE-era flag of Ethiopia (1987–1991) with a socialist emblem added to the green yellow red Ethiopian flag.
In 1987, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam (the Derg leader) established the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE) with a new flag bearing a Marxist-inspired coat of arms. This 1987–1991 flag retained the tricolour stripes but added a central emblem featuring:
- A cogwheel representing industry
- A wreath symbolizing agriculture
- A red star at the top reflecting socialist ideology
End of an Era: The PDRE flag was an overtly Marxist design which lasted until Mengistu's regime was overthrown in 1991. During the civil war that toppled the dictatorship, the rebels (the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, EPRDF) notably flew the old plain tricolour as their banner of liberation. The flag's proportion was changed to 1:2 during this time, which remains the standard today.
Current official Ethiopia flag (1996–present) – the modern green yellow and red Ethiopian flag with blue disc and golden star.
After the fall of the communist regime in 1991, Ethiopia's interim government reverted to the simple green-yellow-red flag without any emblem. This plain tricolour, long a symbol of Ethiopian identity, was used during the transitional period (1991–1995) while a new constitutional order was established.
The 1996 Design: Symbol of Unity in Diversity
On 31 October 1996, following the adoption of a new constitution earlier that year, Ethiopia introduced its current national flag. The modern flag kept the traditional tricolour but added a new national emblem at the center: a blue circular disk with a golden five-pointed star (pentagram) and rays.
Designed by Abebe Alambo
The emblem was expressly created to mark the new era of Ethiopia's "Ethnic Federalism" system
The Star of Unity
The star's interlocking arms symbolize the unity of Ethiopia's many Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples, and its radiant rays signify their equality and common future
The 2009 Proclamation
The government initially permitted both the emblem flag and the plain tricolour to be used, with the emblem chiefly used by state institutions. However, as of 2009, Proclamation 654/2009 requires that the flag always be displayed with its emblem in proper form.
- This law was part of solidifying national symbols
- It imposed fines or imprisonment for defacing the flag or omitting the emblem
- Today, the flag with the blue star emblem is universally the official flag of Ethiopia
A Flag for Modern Ethiopia
The current flag design reflects continuity with the past through its colors, while the emblem highlights the country's new era of unity in diversity. It represents Ethiopia's commitment to peace, equality, and the prosperity of all its peoples under the federal system.
The Ethiopian flag's influence extends far beyond the country's borders. Among the Ethiopian diaspora worldwide, the flag is a cherished symbol of identity, unity, and cultural pride. Diaspora communities – from North America and Europe to the Middle East and Africa – prominently display the tricolour at cultural festivals, national holidays, and community gatherings.
Cultural Celebrations
- Ethiopian restaurants, churches, and businesses decorate with flag colors
- Enkutatash (New Year) and Fasika (Easter) celebrations feature flag-raising ceremonies
- Cultural festivals use the flag as a unifying backdrop for dance, music, and cuisine
Sports and Pride
- Athletes draped in the flag after victories inspire national pride
- Sporting events unite diaspora communities under the national colors
- Wedding and family celebrations feature the flag as a symbol of blessings and unity
Different versions of the Ethiopian flag seen in diaspora communities: the official flag of Ethiopia with emblem, the plain green-yellow-red Ethiopian flag, and the historic Lion of Judah flag linked to the Rastafari flag.
Political Perspectives and Flag Variations
Over the decades of Ethiopia's regime changes, different versions of the flag have carried different political connotations, and these sentiments persist among Ethiopians abroad.
Some diaspora members continue to fly the plain tricolour (without the emblem) as a form of protest or as an assertion of a pan-Ethiopian identity free from any political party symbol
Ethiopian monarchists and Rastafarian devotees sometimes display the old Lion of Judah flag to honor the imperial legacy and Ethiopia's biblical heritage
The current flag with the blue star emblem is used by those who support the federal system and see it as a symbol of unity among Ethiopia's diverse peoples
A Unifying Symbol
Despite differences in which version is displayed, all Ethiopian diaspora communities share a reverence for the red-yellow-green colors. The flag – whether in its current form or older variants – remains a potent emblem of Ethiopian nationhood and heritage. It symbolizes the hope and perseverance of a country that maintained its independence through history, and it serves as a cultural beacon that keeps Ethiopian expatriates connected to their roots and to each other.
The Ethiopian flag has evolved through imperial, socialist, and federal eras, but it has consistently embodied the spirit of the nation. From Menelik II's first tricolour in 1897 to the present banner with the blue star emblem, each change in the flag's design corresponded with a chapter of Ethiopia's history, adding new layers of meaning.
Common Questions About the Ethiopian Flag
What does the Ethiopian flag look like?
The modern Ethiopia flag – also called the Ethiopian flag or flag of Ethiopia – is a horizontal green yellow and red flag with a blue disc and golden star in the center. When people browse all African flags images, the green-yellow-red Ethiopia Africa flag is one of the most easily recognized designs.
Why is the Ethiopian flag a green, yellow, and red flag?
The green red and yellow flag pattern comes from historic Ethiopian and Ethiopian Orthodox colors that symbolize land, hope, justice, equality, sacrifice, and strength. Over time the Ethiopia flag became the model for other Africa flags, so if you compare all African flags you will see these Pan-African colors repeated, while some countries use different schemes like a green white yellow flag or the SA flag (old and new).
What is the Lion of Judah flag and the Rastafari flag?
The historic imperial Lion of Judah flag was an Ethiopian flag variant showing a crowned lion carrying a cross on the green-yellow-red tricolour. Many people today still search for lion of judah flag, flag lion of judah, or lion of judah flag people when they want this classic Ethiopia flag design. The Rastafari flag also uses these Ethiopian empire colors and often the lion symbol, showing how strongly the Ethiopian flag influences global culture.
Why do people mention “Ethiopian empire flag Discord emoji”?
Online, fans of Ethiopian history sometimes look for an Ethiopian empire flag Discord emoji or other emoji to represent the old Lion of Judah flag of Ethiopia. Whether it's the modern Ethiopian flag, the imperial lion flag, or the simple tricolour, the Ethiopia flag remains a powerful symbol both offline and in digital communities.
Many Africa flags use the green-yellow-red Pan-African colors inspired by the Ethiopian flag – when you look at all African flags images together, the flag of Ethiopia stands out as the original model.
Pan-African Inspiration
The green, yellow, and red have transcended Ethiopia to become Pan-African colors of liberation. After World War II, many newly independent African states adopted these colors:
- • Ghana (1957) - First to adopt Ethiopian colors
- • Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon
- • Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and others
- • Symbolizing anti-colonial struggle and African pride
Symbol of Independence
As the only African nation to successfully resist European colonization, Ethiopia's flag became a beacon of hope for colonized peoples worldwide. The tricolour represented what was possible – a free and independent Africa. For the global Black diaspora, Ethiopian colors came to signify dignity, resistance, and the promise of freedom.
A Living Symbol of National Pride
Today, whether fluttering atop a government building in Addis Ababa or held aloft by diaspora youth in Washington, D.C., the Ethiopian flag is a powerful symbol of national pride, cultural identity, and resilience. The current emblem – the blue disk and golden star – reinforces a message of unity, peace, and equality in a country of great diversity.
The Ethiopian flag continues to inspire Ethiopians and admirers around the world, standing as a testament to the enduring power of national symbols to unite, inspire, and preserve cultural heritage across generations and continents.
- First adopted on October 6, 1897 by Emperor Menelik II after the Battle of Adwa
- One of the oldest flags in Africa and inspired many other African nations
- Colors represent: green (land, hope), yellow (justice, equality), red (sacrifice, strength)
- Imperial era featured the Lion of Judah emblem (1913-1974)
- Plain tricolour used during Derg period (1975-1987) and transition (1991-1996)
- Current design adopted October 31, 1996 with blue disc and golden pentagram star
- Blue disc represents peace, golden star symbolizes unity of Ethiopia's diverse peoples
- Designed by artist Abebe Alambo for the Federal Democratic Republic
- Proclamation 654/2009 mandates emblem must always be included on official flags
- Flag ratio is 1:2 (height to width), established during the Derg era
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