Red represented the blood of those massacred in the north. Black is for mourning them and in remembrance. Green is for prosperity and the half of a yellow/golden sun stands for a glorious future. The sun has eleven rays, representing the eleven provinces of Biafra.

It was also the inspiration for the flag of the short-lived Republic of Benin (consisting of the Biafran-occupied Mid-Western region).

It is based on the pan-African flag designed by Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League It should not be confused with the similar-looking flag of Malawi.