They heavily influenced the other newly-independent countries that followed. About 21 Sub-Saharan countries have this colour combination. It’s not just African countries that have Pan-African colours on their flags. In the Caribbean: Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada have them.

By the time Ghana attained independence in 1957 as the first Sub-Saharan African country to do so, the Pan-African movement was strong and influential. The next decade saw majority of countries in the region attain independence. The independence Ethiopia had under Haile Selassie, during the colonial years played a big inspirational role to the freedom movements.