If you happen to be in Birmingham, Alabama this winter, drop by the Birmingham Museum of Art to see the collection of Haitian Vodou flags up close and personal.  This should be a real treat. The flag pictured is from the collection which runs from December 15 until May, 2016.

While these flags are labelled as an art form, it’s worthwhile to look beyond aesthetics and into the symbolism of this enduring African tradition in the new world.

In both African and European traditions, flags and banners are symbols of identity, power, and authority. When used in Vodoun ceremonies, flags represent the loa spirits and are carried into sacred spaces of worship, and even worn over the shoulders.

Read the full story: Haitian Flags from the Cargo Collection