AKAN SWORDS - AKOFENA
AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT
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Swords that were originally meant for military purposes have assumed certain political and ritual functions. They carry symbols that evoke specific messages. The Akan sword has three parts: a blade, usually made of some metal; the hilt (made of wood carving or metal); and the sheath, usually made of animal hide.
The blade may have a sharp cutting edge. It often has incised lines or symbolic designs on it. Some sword have double blades (afenata) or triple blades (mfenasa).
The hilt is usually made of wood and may be wrapped with gold leaf with various symbols worked on to it. The hilt itself may be carved to encode a symbol. The sheath may carry an embossment (abosodee) that comprises of symbols meant to evoke certain expressive messages. The mpomponsuo (responsibility) sword of the Asanthene, for example, has an embossment of a coiled snake wth a bird in its mouth. This conveys the 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.
An array of swords with symbolic embossments
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There are two main types of swords in the regalia of the Akan chief: afenatene (long sword) and the short sword. The afenatene usually does not have a sheath. It is, however, topped by a symbol. The short sword may be used as akrafena or nsuaefena (also known as akofena). The akrafena is used in conjunction with the stool blackening ceremony. Nsuaefena is used in the political ceremony of taking the oath of office by the king and in swearing oath of allegiance by the subjects to the king. The akofena may be carried by the king's emissaries on diplomatic missions. In such situations, the meaning associated with the symbol embossed on the sheath conveys the message of the mission.
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Blade of an afenatene sword showing the akoma (heart), denkyem (crocodile), akuma (axe) and the sankofa bird.
MPOMPONSUO SWORD
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The mpomponsuo sword symbolizes RESPONSIBILITY, POWER, LOYALTY, BRAVERY, and AUTHORITY.
This sword is used by the Asantehene in taking the oath of office. The other amanhene of Asante use this sword to swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene. This sword is one of the four principal state swords of the Asante. his sword was created by Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware I (r. 1731-1742), and is the foremost example of akrafena.
ABRAFOO - POLICE OFFICERS
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In the Asantehene's court, there are abrafoo (police officers) and adumfoo (executioners) as well as afenasoafoo (sword bearers).
AFENANTA - DOUBLE BLADE SWORD
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AFENANTA - DOUBLE BLADE SWORD
This sword has the denkyem and sankofa symbols
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© G. F. Kojo Arthur and Robert Rowe - 1998-2001
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