Akrafena
| Akrafena | |
|---|---|
More elaborate Ashanti swords have adinkra symbols in the ring and on the blade. |
|
| Type | Sword / Fighting Knife / Machete |
| Place of origin |
 Ashanti
|
| Production history | |
| Produced | Ashanti City-State (1670–1902) to present |
| Specifications | |
| Blade length | approx. 70–73 cm (27½–28½ in.) |
|
|
| Also known as |
Akrafena Akofena |
|---|---|
| Focus |
Sword fighting Knife fighting Unarmed combat Street-fighting Striking attacks Clinch-fighting |
| Hardness | Eclectic / Hybrid |
| Country of origin |
Ashanti
|
| Creator | Ashanti City-State |
| Famous practitioners |
Osei Tutu I Osei Tutu II Prince Boateng |
| Olympic sport | No |
Akrafena (Ashanti sword) is an Ashanti sword, originally meant for warfare but also forming part of Ashanti heraldry and a concept-based martial art and form of self-defense utilising both striking and grappling while specialising in close-range combat that emphasize weapon-based fighting with knives, bladed weapons and various improvised weapons and street-fighting, hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling and weapon disarming techniques and Akrafena is the national sport and martial art of the Ashanti Cty-State.
The sword has three parts: a blade, usually made of some metal such as iron; a hilt of carved wood or metal; and the sheath, usually made of animal hide.
The blade in ritual swords may not have a sharp cutting edge. It often has incised lines or Ashanti symbolic designs on it, which evoke specific messages. Some swords have double (afenata) or triple (mfenasa) blades.
The hilt may be wrapped with gold leaf with various Ashanti symbols worked onto it. The hilt itself may be carved to encode an Ashanti symbol.
The sheath may carry an embossment (abosodee) that comprises Ashanti symbols meant to evoke certain expressive messages. The mpomponsuo (responsibility) sword of the Asantehene, for example, has an embossment of a coiled snake with a bird in its mouth. This conveys the Ashanti message: nanka bobonya mede asase anya onwam – the puff adder that cannot fly has caught the hornbill that flies. This is used to symbolize patience, prudence, and circumspection.
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Wikipedia