Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Akrafena
An akrafena (Twi: "sword") is an Akan sword, originally meant for warfare but also forming part of Akan heraldry. The foremost example of an akrafena is the Mponponsuo (meaning "responsibility"), which belonged to Opoku Ware II. It has survived to the present day because it is still occasionally used in ceremonies, such as the Akwasidae Festival.
The expert use of akrafena is also a martial art, utilising the blade in conjunction with knives, improvised weapons, street-fighting, hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling and weapon disarming techniques, as well as using the martial art of akrafena unarmed. The akrafena martial art is the national sport of the Ashanti Region.
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 like leopard, leather and electric eel skin.
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: the puff adder that cannot fly has caught the hornbill that flies. This is used to symbolize patience, prudence, and circumspection.
Traditionally there are about five to six types of Ashanti swords with some better known than others:
Kɛtɛanomfena: Literally meaning swords on the edge of bed. They are placed at the edge of the king's bed when he goes to sleep. Additionally, they are placed on the edges of the apakan (palanquin) when the king rides in it as part of a procession. Kɛtɛanofena are further subdivided into two sets: akrafena (swords of the soul) and abosomfena (deity swords)
Hub AI
Akrafena AI simulator
(@Akrafena_simulator)
Akrafena
An akrafena (Twi: "sword") is an Akan sword, originally meant for warfare but also forming part of Akan heraldry. The foremost example of an akrafena is the Mponponsuo (meaning "responsibility"), which belonged to Opoku Ware II. It has survived to the present day because it is still occasionally used in ceremonies, such as the Akwasidae Festival.
The expert use of akrafena is also a martial art, utilising the blade in conjunction with knives, improvised weapons, street-fighting, hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, grappling and weapon disarming techniques, as well as using the martial art of akrafena unarmed. The akrafena martial art is the national sport of the Ashanti Region.
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 like leopard, leather and electric eel skin.
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: the puff adder that cannot fly has caught the hornbill that flies. This is used to symbolize patience, prudence, and circumspection.
Traditionally there are about five to six types of Ashanti swords with some better known than others:
Kɛtɛanomfena: Literally meaning swords on the edge of bed. They are placed at the edge of the king's bed when he goes to sleep. Additionally, they are placed on the edges of the apakan (palanquin) when the king rides in it as part of a procession. Kɛtɛanofena are further subdivided into two sets: akrafena (swords of the soul) and abosomfena (deity swords)