Coming 2 America’s fictional African nation Zamunda has a flag (and a Twitter account). It is black and green, with a yellow lion insignia. What does Zamunda’s flag mean, and can you buy it?
Zamunda flag colours and symbolism
Zamunda’s flag is black, green and yellow. The only national flag to have those three colours (and no others) is Jamaica.
However, the two flags are otherwise very different. But are there any other connections between Zamunda’s flag and other real life flags?
Zamunda’s flag and Pan-Africanism
Zamunda’s flag has two of the three so-called Pan-African colours.
Introduced by Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey in 1920, the colours of Pan-Africanism are red, black and green.
Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA). To this day, the red, black and green flag is a recognisable symbol of Pan-Africanism.
Red represents the blood that unites all people of African ancestry, black represents melanin, and green represents the rich land of Africa – according to PanAfricanAlliance.
Zamunda’s flag is split horizontally into two colours, black (top) and green (bottom). In the foreground, a yellow lion tears apart what looks like a burning sun, or a large petalled flower.
Watch it wave via this FlagWaver simulator.
Lions on flags
Lions are not uncommon on national flags, owing to their reputation as the king of the jungle.
Several national flags feature lions, but not all of them are yellow.
The Cayman Islands’ flag, which dates back to 1958, when the country gained autonomy from the British, features a yellow lion. It sits in a coat of arms, below a tortoise.
Jersey’s flag also has a coat of arms, this time featuring three small golden lions.
Meanwhile, Montenegro’s flag, launched in 2004, has a yellow lion holding up one paw, inside a shield borne by two eagles.
Sri Lanka’s flag
However, the most prominent example of a yellow lion on a national flag is the flag of Sri Lanka.
Beside two vertical bands of green and saffron is a large yellow lion carrying a sword in its right forepaw.
The lion symbol has played a major role in the history of Sri Lanka since Vijaya, the first King of Sri Lanka, set foot on the island in 486 BC, bearing a flag with a symbol of a lion.
Can you buy a Zamunda flag?
Yes! You can buy flags bearing the Zamunda colours via Amazon here.
Sellers on Redbubble have also put the Zamunda flag on mugs and posters, while TeePublic are selling a Kingdom of Zamunda t-shirt.
Steve’s Hot Dogs in St Louis, Missouri is flying the Zamunda flag outside the shop – see below.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Public Square is flying the Zamunda flag today, and inviting passers-by to tag photos on social media.
Another flag is hanging in the picturesque German city of Munich.
Where is Zamunda in Africa?
Zamunda is not a real country in Africa, hence it does not have a specific location. However, closing credits do jokingly thank the Zamundan Film Commission.
The makers of Coming to America chose the Palm Garden of the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, east of Pasadena, as the filming location for the grounds of Zamunda’s royal palace.
Other palace interiors were actually shot on set in Hollywood, according to Movie-Locations.
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