Bestellen Sie Ihre Fahnen / Flaggen im Flaggen-Shop bei fahnenversand.de

Martinique - 2023 flag introduction

Last modified: 2023-03-04 by rob raeside
Keywords: martinique |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

image by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

• Development of the new flag
• Flag proposals
• Initial successful proposal
• Final Selection

See also:

• Martinique
• France

Flag Proposals

Here are the proposals submitted to the 2023 consultation.
Elements from: https://vote-hymne-drapeau.collectivitedemartinique.mq/vote-drapeau
The texts were given by the authors (for now, anonymous) of the submitted flags.
Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The presented flag is called harmony. The basis is red green black: red for war, blood, persecution suffered by the people, green for harmony with nature, black for the color of slaves, the pain of tormented history. The traditional flag is reversed with black above, to signify that the black man, the black people must stand up and must be in harmony with their environment. Are added the rising sun, a source of inestimable energy, and three blue lines which segment the flag and represent the waterways present in Martinique and the insularity.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

It re-adapts the existing Red-Green-Black flag. The oblique line changes the layout of the flag, to modernize it and keep the symbolic colors without the layout linked to "independence" flag in the minds of some people. The oblique line symbolizes dynamism and movement. The hummingbird has the ability to fly backwards, it symbolizes the ability to look to the past, while continuing with one's life. It symbolizes the faculty of the heart to open up again and to heal itself despite the wounds and to continue to move forward. The energy of the hummingbird symbolizes vigor and constant activity. The movement of its wings can be seen as a symbol of infinity. The hummingbird also symbolizes peace and respect thanks to its noble and quiet character. It also represents the island of flowers.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

This flag is nicknamed "Union". The red triangle represents the volcanic origins, the sacrifice, the bloodshed but above all the energy and the courage. The white border is a symbol of power, of movement towards the future. Blue represents the sky and the Caribbean Sea. Green is a symbol of lush nature and hope, of a fertile country, of a nourishing land.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The red-green-black with an additional symbol. Red for past, present and future victories, green for Martinique, for its nature and the prosperity of today's and future generations, black for Pan-African Unity rooted in the origin of the history of the country. The yellow star for the people of Martinique in its diversity, for peace and harmony; for the alignment between Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana; for the memorial of the Figures of the Martinican People from the Caribbean Indians to nowadays.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The three colors red green black, well known in Martinique, are identified with the rays of the sun which bathes its territory and they retain the symbolic values attributed by history. The flag takes into account the struggles led by Martinican elected officials and its people to ensure that Martinique remains an undisputed part of French territory, hence the blue, white and red stars, a hint to the French tricolor.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The flag in red, green and black colors, which is part of the history of the Martinican struggle to which is added a handshake: this design aims to communicate a message of union and peace of the Martinican people.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The 5-color flag is intended to be a junction flag representing diversity. Depending on how you look at it, you will see a real encounter there:
‐ an opening flag on the outside
‐ or a flag of introspection where everything comes back to its core.

Yellow links the angles of the flag. Imagine in its center Martinique/the Martiniquais. They diffuse and radiate, like the sun that rises and shines every day for everyone. Martinique feeds on the influences of the world and feeds the world on its influences. Martinique is at a crossroads between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
The green symbolizes the earth, the nature so rich and so different from the North to the South of the island. At the the bottom of the flag, it is the base on which we lean to move forward and feed ourselves.
The blue symbolizes the water of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the color of fraternity, solidarity, fluidity. Red symbolizes fire and blood. The one poured by the people as well as the one that circulates in the veins to allow them to move forward every day. It is the color of freedom acquired by many fights, and that of the heart and love.
Black is the color of the people but above all of knowledge. It is a path of elevation to wisdom, positioned at the top of the flag.

NB: This flag is also the one used since 2011 by the Taekwondo League of Martinique for international competitions. It is the official flag of the Martinique delegation of Taekwondo, member of the World Taekwondo Federation and the Pan American Taekwondo Union. In 2009, when Martinique was affiliated worldwide for this martial art, the local taekwondo league was obliged to present a flag which should not be the blue white red flag since there was already a team from France. After a consultation on Facebook for which 10,000 responses were received, a proposal was made and approved by the sports movement and the regional council at the time. Source: https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/quel-drapeau-martinique-487009.html 

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Flag of reconciliation (reconciliation of the people and with history). Flag of federation, of cohesion of the Martinican people, based on the three traditional colors.
The three green stars represent the 3 times the red‐green‐black flag changed shape during the revolts in Martinique: 1665 Francis Fabulé - 1960 OJAM - 1968 M.N.M.L. (?) *
The triangle refers to strength, to the beak of the swordfish, to the beak of the hummingbird, to Montagne Pelee, to the arrow (symbol of direction, overcoming of constraints, fulfillment of oneself and of everything).
The circle is the symbol of unity, of the family, it refers to a sacred place. It is separated into 8, as in a round bèlè, to show the place of each in the life of the island. It is also the seat of life, a stomach.
The central symbol is an anthropomorphic iguana in honor of the Kalinagos. It is the representation of the first individual on the island. He is also a newborn in an egg full of all the strength and courage of his elders, a future fighter, a man standing ready for anything.
The line represents the stability in the advance, the serenity of the steps towards the future, the openness, the drive towards all that Martinique wishes to achieve.

* The origin of the use of the colors red-black-green in Martinique seems to go back, in the local historiography, to Francis Fabulé, a black Maroon who would have fought with the Caribs against the French colonists in 1665.
Concerning OJAM ((Organisation de la Jeunesse anti-coloniale de la Martinique / Organization of the anti-colonial Youth of Martinique), see: mq}modem.html

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Green represents nature, which is omnipresent in the daily lives of Martinicans. Red represents the need for solidarity, freedom and identity. Black is a tribute to the history of the Martinican people and to the Afro-descendant culture. The star symbolizes the unity of the people, past, present and future.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Red represents the will of life of Martinicans, freedom but also victory. The green represents the luxuriant nature, the biodiversity which brings an extraordinary richness to Martinique. Green also represents the hope for a better future but also the solidarity of the people of Martinique in the face of adversity. Black represents the culture rich in history, the solidarity for the struggle and the values that the ancestors defended. Black also represents the people of Martinique, descendants of slaves. The shaking hands and the hummingbird represent freedom, equality and fraternity which sums up the word solidarity. The bird, emblematic figure of the island refers to the openness to the outside world, freedom. The handshake represents equality between men and women, between the people of Martinique but also fraternity, a symbol of unity.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

On this flag, the round skiff ("Yole") was chosen as the main emblem because it embodies the culture and history of Martinique. It is the object of a strong attachment for most of the people of Martinique. Several centuries old, it is typical of Martinique and has been listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage site since 2020, reinforcing its relevance as a symbol of the island internationally.
The second emblem is a black star, underlining the African ancestry of the Martinican people and the memory of the abolition of slavery. It has four branches corresponding to the four districts/sub-prefectures that make up the territory, namely Le Marin in the south, Saint-Pierre in the north, Fort-de-France in the west and Trinité in the east. The star is placed above the Yole as a “guide�; like a star guiding the fishermen who sailed aboard these boats, it embodies hope and the desire for progress.
Red and green color the sail of the skiff, while the mast and the hull of the boat are, like the star, presented in black. Red represents the blood shed by the ancestors and the fight for freedom. The green, on the other hand, reflects the lush vegetation of the island and the attachment to the land. These three colors are associated to convey the symbol of Martinican and West Indian identity.
The yellow background evokes the sun and the wealth of the island, as well as the ambition of its people.
These four colors brought together also support a little more, on the one hand, the strong link to the African continent, but on the other hand the belonging to the Caribbean culture, whose nations take up these colors for many.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The flag was designed after conceptual analysis of the flags in the West Indies, taking into account elements such as shapes, signs, symbols...
Blue and green represent Martinique by its location but also by the place of nature. Blue represents the waters that bathe Martinique, but also strength, tradition and trust. The green represents the flora and fauna of Martinique; it is also a symbol of strength and security.
The starry circle highlights the 34 municipalities of the island.
Yellow symbolizes joy, friendship or fraternity.
The hummingbird, strong symbol of Martinique, wants to be indomitable and free, and represents progress thanks to the work of each and everyone.
The white disc is a symbol of elegance, perfection and plenitude.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The three colors are inherited from the history of Martinique: colors in use during the rebellion led by Francis in 1665, colors taken up by Jean Kina in 1801 during a rebellion of slaves in Carbet, then in 1870 during the uprising in the South, where the insurgents wore "scarves or red, green, black bands", as a rallying sign; in 1962, creation of the O.J.A.M (Organization of the anti-colonial Youth of Martinique), and publication of a Manifesto of Martinican Youth "against colonialism for the liberation of Martinique".
Red: revolt for more justice, for a new humanist social order within society, for a fair distribution of wealth.
Green: appropriation of the land for a more sustainable development model.
Black: Affirmation of the people on the basis of Negritude and fight against racism.
The stripes are horizontal to give and show perspective, hope and affirm that the values of hope and alignment (fidelity, loyalty, unity, solidarity) are an integral part of the Martinican collective personality while demonstrating its capacity of resilience.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Traditional red-green-black flag.
"No one can deny that a flag is a symbol of identity linked to all its diversities. No one can deny that a flag can be as much linked to confrontations of ideas as to collective victories and joys. The red green black flag has no problem and is not a problem. Its birth and its own values have been strengthened through struggles and all this over the ages. This emblem aims to remind us of who we are through our plural identity. It aims to trigger and motivate our motivations, it is above all the energy of the People! Its role transcends us, boosts us in order to achieve any objective allowing its People to stand proudly in the face of adversity!
It does not need to be modified, it just needs its Existence to be validated in all humility.
Red for blood, the power of its existence through time. The bond that associates life and death for his People.
Green for the respect of its own Nature. Men, Women and children, the family as a sacred base and all the environment of the territory which the People will always want to take care of because it is made up of all these factors.
Black for his Dignity and for all the times past and future that the People will cross with their heads held high, carrying their dignity like a Unanimous and Unique trophy."

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The tambouyé is a conical membranophone consisting of a barrel over which a skin is stretched, struck with the hands and rubbed occasionally with the heel of the foot. It is used for the traditional and cultural dance: the Bèlè.
The musician is placed in a circle representing the top of the drum, surrounded by twenty-two symbols, in order to mark, as every year, the date of May 22, the day of celebration of the abolition of slavery in Martinique.
Red: For the blood shed over the years, by the ancestors, during slavery.
Green: For nourishing earth, the richness of fauna and flora as well as hope. Black: African origin, elegance.
Yellow: For the joie de vivre of the country throughout the year, through its traditions and festivals

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Named "Resilience" this flag has kept the layout of the traditional Red-Green-Black flag, but with other colours.
Blue recalls insularity, the sea and the sky.
Green is reminiscent of lush vegetation, stands for hope, luck and health. It echoes the union of the sun and the sea; yellow+blue = green.
The black recalls the negritude created by Césaire, Senghor and Damas; mostly of African origin, the Martinican population, although mixed, remains deeply attached to Africa through its culture, traditions and heritage. The black triangle echoes the mountainous reliefs of the island.
Yellow is reminiscent of the sun, a source of energy. Arranged on black it echoes knowledge in a darkness that has to be explored. It symbolizes transcendence.
The radiant star represents the Martinican population: each ray could represent each component of Martinican society. These components work to radiate the island but also know how to converge towards the core for a common cause. This disk forming the center of the star symbolizes unity, harmony, perfection. You can also see a wind rose symbolizing openness to the world.

NB : obviously, the author does not know that the Sun of Vergina is a strong symbol of identity attached to another part of the world, and not a kind of sun you can use anyhow anywhere: North Macedonian Sun of Vergina flag

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

Red: victory and strength
Brown: land of mixed cultures and identities
Black outline symbolizes the people present on the land before colonization
Green: hope & vegetation

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The flag is inspired by landmarks (colors, shapes, symbols, etc.) published through the various flags already designed and deployed by Martiniquans for Martinique.
The 1:2 ratio makes it possible to have as a base a double square in the rectangular frame. It is a reference to the 4 cardinal points, to the squares of Madras, to the bèlè...
The flag is also based on three tim�tim bwa sèch (recreational and educational riddles), reinforced by a fundamental maxim and two proverbs...
They orient from bottom to top a symbolic arrangement of the five colors: Blood-red, black (fern root), green-vetiver, blue horizon (sea-sky), yellow-rising sun and a fundamentalization of the three historical colors red green black in the hummingbird flight symbol. The five proposed colors call to unite like the five fingers around the vibrant hummingbird that suggests both a heart and the “M� of Martinique/Madinina.
In the order of assembly and reading, from bottom to top, we see symbolized, in red, the volcanic depths so dear to Aimé Césaire who positively notes the dimension and the telluric power from which he intends to collect the creative bubbling and the transforming cry. The black degree can manifest the fertile ground on the surface. The green level symbolizes the lush and fertile hills. The blue top the magnificent maritime and celestial perspectives. The rising sun so dear and precious in tradition no longer needs to be presented. And from the midpoint the symbolic hummingbird gives flight to all this. The flag is nicknamed O Jamkouloubou: the vocalization of the promising bubbling of cooking water, but also a play on words with the OJAM.

image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023

The profiles of genealogically African and European characters evoke the plurality of the Martinican people, mixed cultures, union and living together.
"A wink of identity" is brought by the Creole earring which is, in fact, a broken chain ring.
Red is for the fight, the struggle and the suffering of the origins of the people
Green for hope, ecology and nature.
The faces look to the right and the green, accentuating the effect of hope and expectation.

Bei fahnenversand.de erhalten Sie eine Vielzahl an günstigen Flaggen, Pins und Aufnähern, zum Beispiel: