Flags that represent different countries come in all patterns and colors. In the effort to keep them all straight in your head, you may find yourself wondering: “What country has a black and yellow flag?”
Although no country has a flag that only features two colors, there are a total of 12 country flags that include the color black and the color yellow in their design. These countries are Jamaica, Belgium, Germany, Vanuatu, Angola, Barbuda and Antigua, Uganda, Dominica, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Saint Lucia.
In this article, we will take a look at not only the flags of these countries and the black and white features on them, but a little bit about each country, too. Let’s get right into it!
What Country Has a Black and Yellow Flag?
As previously mentioned, there is a grand total of 12 countries that included the colors yellow and black in their flag’s design. These can be seen below:
- Jamaica
- Zimbabwe
- Mozambique
- Swaziland
- Belgium
- Germany
- Vanuatu
- Angola
- Barbuda and Antigua
- Uganda
- Dominica
- Saint Lucia
Let’s examine a little bit about each country and their flag so that the designs of these unique nations’ symbols are easier to remember!
1. Jamaica
The Country of Jamaica used to be part of the Commonwealth of the West Indies. However, in 1962, in the month of August, Jamaica declared its independence and adopted its own flag!
The yellow color comes into the flag on a yellow saltire, or “X”, dividing the segments of green and black. Yellow is representative of the wealth of the Jamaican people as well as the beauty of the sun that shines on them!
Meanwhile, the black is representative of creative skill as well as physical strength in the Jamaicans. Green represents the hope of the people in their agriculture.
2. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s flag is beautiful, with 7 bands of color joined by a striking image of a bird. It was adopted in 1980, in the month of April.
There are equal color bands running horizontally across the flag’s expanse. Two are yellow, two are green, two are red, and the center stripe is black. The left side of the flag features a white triangle to draw attention to the symbols of a star and a bird of Zimbabwe.
This bird is a talc bird, a statue which was found when investigating ruins of Great Zimbabwe. For this reason, the flag is representative of the rich history of the Zimbabwe people. It also pays homage to socialism through the red star.
The stripes on the flag have a more detailed meaning: red is representative of the Zimbabwe people’s red blood, spilled in their fight for their own freedom, while yellow represents their rich resources in minerals. Black represents the people themselves, while the white triangle framing the bird symbolizes a desire for peace.
3. Mozambique
Mozambique’s flag also adopts the stripes-and-left-triangle design, though with fewer colors than Zimbabwe. It was adopted in the summer of the year 1983. The stripes are horizontal, one green, one black with white borders, and one yellow.
The left triangle is red, while the star in the center is white. This white star is crowned with a book lying open, along with a rifle of the Kalashnikov variety containing a bayonet with a hole.
This symbolism may seem a little complex, but don’t worry: these images have simple explanations! The open book shows that the Mozambique people value education and learning. The weapon of the rifle symbolizes an ever-watchful spirit of defense.
The star is meant to symbolize solidarity for the Mozambique country’s relationship with other nations. Green is representative of the wealth that Mozambique holds, while yellow is, much like Zimbabwe, representative of minerals.
Meanwhile the white bars alongside the black stripe means peace, while the black stripe itself pays homage to the continent of Africa where Zimbabwe is located and the red is, again like Zimbabwe, representative of blood spilled toward the goal of independence.
4. Swaziland
Swaziland’s flag is certainly interesting! It was adopted when they became independent from Britannia in 1968. It holds a black and white shield which is reminiscent of Swazi warriors, which is also accompanied by two spears that symbolize defense against their enemies.
The background of yellow, blue, and red stripes are meant to symbolize wealth in minerals, peace, and the battles of the past, respectively.
5. Belgium
The national flag of the country Belgium is relatively simple, visually. The only color added to our black and yellow colors of interest is the rightmost of three stripes, which is red. Don’t get this flag confused with Germany’s country flag: remember that black is first from the left, with yellow in the center and red as the final stripe.
These colors feature in Belgium’s constitution. Black represents the humility of the people, yellow, as usual, is representative of their prosperity, and of course red is symbolic for victory.
6. Germany
Germany is very similar to Belgium in flag design with black, yellow, and red stripes, but remember that Germany’s flag stripes are arranged horizontally instead of vertically. In addition, their flag has red in the center rather than yellow.
All three colors combined represent several things to the German people: unity, democracy, republicans, centrists, and freedom.
7. Vanuatu
The Vanuatu flag has two horizontal bands, one red and one green, separated by a yellow Y which has a black border. The triangle created by the Y has two leaves and pig tusks inside.
The color black is symbolic of soil, the color green is symbolic of beautiful greenery, and red is symbolic for religious rites.
The pig is a part of these religious practices of animal sacrifices, while, somewhat contradictorily, yellow is meant to signify Christian faith.
8. Angola
Angola’s flag is half black and half red with a gear logo and yellow machete creating a symbol similar to the former Soviet symbol. The yellow star is meant to convey progress and the united mindset of the country. The gear and weapon a representative of agricultural work right alongside battles for independence.
9. Antigua and Barbuda
This flag was designed by Sir Reginald Samuel. It is red with an upside-down triangle striped with blue, white, and black. The black portion features half of a sun-like symbol, which is yellow.
Red is symbolic of life, blue is representative of everlasting hope, white is representative of peace, and black is representative of Antiqua and Barbuda’s roots in Africa. The rising sun was symbolic of a brand new beginning, and only seven points are shown to represent the six parishes on the island of Barbuda.
10. Uganda
Uganda has a flag with six horizontal stripes, two of which are red, two of which are yellow, and two of which are black. These are the backgrounds interrupted by a white circle in the center, which creates a space for a dapper black crane.
The yellow in the flag is representative of the sunshine Africa sees so much of, while black represents Uganda’s African heritage and red represents their brotherhood. The white disc symbolizes Angola, and the crane, which was a military emblem when Uganda was ruled by colonies, is now representative of gentleness.
11. Dominica
Dominica’s flag may stand out for many reasons, but an undeniable one is the presence of a cheerful sisserou parrot surrounded by ten green stars perched in the middle of a red disk. The background of this image is a cross combining black, yellow, and white stripes to divide four green rectangles.
Green is, once more, representative of vegetation. The cross itself is representative of the Christian faith, while the colors mean fertility, the people themselves, and the cleanliness of the water.
The red disc the parrot sits in is meant to convey a sense of justice, while the parrot is immortalized as an endangered species. The ten stars represent ten parishes in the country itself.
12. Saint Lucia
Finally, Saint Lucia is a flag that is mostly blue. However, our black and yellow colors can be found in the triangular symbol in the middle. A longer black triangle is bordered by white, with a smaller yellow triangle over top along the bottom.
Blue represents the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans as well as the sky, while the triangle is referencing the unity of white and black people around the country. The yellow triangle is meant to represent both riches and sunshine!
In Conclusion
To sum it all up, there are twelve countries around the globe which use the colors yellow and black in their flag designs. According to The Best of Africa.org, many of these flags (though not all) are representing countries found in Africa.
Most of these countries use the color yellow to be representative of either riches, sunshine, or victory. The color yellow has been indicative of many things as well, including unity, black heritage, African roots, or fertile soil.
