Bandera de Benawara (Flag of Benawara), "La Palma" island, Canaries
Flags are among the most ancient of deliberate human signs. Since ancient times, they have served to indentify persons and families of rank, as well as countries and peoples. They began as rallying points - emblems or images around which allies could gather on the battlefield or at times of crisis - and so were from the beginning essentially signs of union and identity as well as being statements of distinction and exception. Flags have always been valued as important objects in themselves, and even been reputed to possess supernatural powers.
Bandera de Benawara symbolizes the union of the Awara people of Benawara island ("La Palma" island). Before Bandera de Benawara, the idea of Awara imagery was expressed with Spanish colonial symbols and the Spanish genocidal crown as the shield. The Spanish crown has a very long and dark history of dark deeds including the invasion of the Canary Islands and the abuse of our people: killings, torture, rapes, stealing our lands/animals, selling our people as slaves, summary and arbitrary executions, fascist and dictatorial government (Franco & Co), etc. Since the criminal Spanish military invasion, the Canary Islands have been controlled from Spain with an iron grip. The Spaniards brutalized the African Canarian people while the wealth of the Canaries continues to be shipped away to another continent (Europe).
Bandera de Benawara (Flag of Benawara) is instantly recognizable
Benawara island ("La Palma" island) is dominated by the colours blue, green and black. Blue represents the surrounding ocean, green represents the abundant plant life (which is the most diverse in the Canary Islands) and black comes from the volcanic rocks that forms the landscape and the numerous beaches of black sand. The pre-Hispanic spiral, in the central section of the flag, represents the Awara God Abora (The Sun). You can see the spiral in our island in rock carvings made by our ancestors - the Awara.
Please note that the indigenous and millenial name of our island is Benawara. The name of "La Palma" was imposed on us by Spanish colonialism. The same applies to calling us "palmero/a" ("palmeran"). This too is false as we are not related to the family Arecaceae or Palmae (palm and coconut trees). The correct name given to the people (child, youth, woman, man, elder) from our island is Awara (singular and plural).
Where the strong the weak oppress,
Where the suffering succour crave,
Where the tyrant spreads distress,
There the Flag of Benawara must wave!
Thank you for your interest in Flag of Benawara.
Benawara Island ("La Palma" island),
Canary Islands,
Africa.
