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.
Design
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.
Types
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Traditionally there are about five types of Ashanti swords with some better known than others.
There are two main types of swords in the regalia of the Ashanti-Akan chief: Afenatene (Long sword) and the Short sword. The Afenatene usually does not have a sheath. It is, however, topped by an Ashanti Adinkra symbol. The short sword may be used as Akrafena or Nsuaefena (also known as Akrafena).[1]
• Akrafena: The Akrafena is used in wars, and in conjunction with an Ashanti stool blackening ceremony; The Akrafena may be carried by the king’s emissaries on Ashanti City-State diplomatic missions.[1] In such situations, the meaning associated with the Ashanti Adinkra symbol embossed on the sheath conveys the message of the mission.[1]
• Nsuaefena: The Nsuaefena is used in the Ashanti City-State political ceremony of taking the oath of office by the king and in swearing oath of allegiance by the subjects to the Ashanti emperor-king Asantehene.[1]
• Afenatene: is used by Ashantis to penetrate (weaponry) the Ashanti war opponents hearts. The Blade of an Afenatene sword shows the akoma (heart), denkyem (crocodile), akuma (axe) and the sankofa.[1]
• Afenanta: The Afenanta is a "Double Blade Sword" used by the Ashantis for cutting human ligaments during an Ashanti war.[1] The Afenanta has the Ashanti denkyem and sankofa symbols embroidered onto the blades.[1]
• Mpomponsuo: The Mpomponsuo sword symbolizes; Responsibility, Power, Loyalty, Bravery, and Authority.[1]
The Mpomponsuo sword is used by the Asantehene in taking the oath of office. The other Ashanti amanhene use the Mpomponsuo sword to swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene.[1] The Mpomponsuo sword is one of the four principal state swords of Ashanti City-State. The Asantehene sword was created by Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware I (r. 1731 – 1742), and is the foremost example of Akrafena.[1]
Akrafena as weapons
History
Bonoman Kingdom (10th century AD) and the Ashanti Empire States (13th century AD to 21st century)
---- Part of Ashanti weaponry used during ancient Ashanti wars
Bonoman long swords were used primarily by Ashanti cavalry and commanders, not infantry during the 10th to 15th centuries.[2] In the 16th century and at the time of Denkyira, Akyem and Akwamu land warfare consisted mostly of spearmen and bowmen on foot, mounted archers using two-handed bows, and mounted swordsmen with two-handed swords (twin blades). Ashanti Swords were not a primary weapon for all Ashanti combat but were mostly for Ashanti shock attacks, defensive strokes and close combat. Blades were heavy as they were made of bronze and later iron, and pommels were often knobbed and used as balances. Short swords may have been used in follow-up attacks, as short sword carriers were armoured completely and accompanied with a shield.[2]
Ashanti Akrafena Swords with wooden or metal pommels decorated with beaten gold have featured in Ashanti court regalia since the 17th century AD.[2] Ashanti Swords were used during Ashanti wars since the 17th century. The Ashantis were engaged in a series of military conflicts from the 18th century AD, between Ashanti City-State military forces and African states and European states up until the 20th century.[2]
In the 21st century, the Ashanti Swords are primarily by Ashantis for self-defense,[3] and the Ashanti Akrafena (Ashanti Sword of war) is primarily used for Ashanti warfare and land warfare.[3]
During the Empire of Ashanti period, Ashanti swords also had ranks (hierarchy) depending on who wielded them and what their purpose was. The highest ranking of these swords was known as the Mpomponsuo, literally meaning "responsibility sword." Only two such swords existed and were wielded by the King's two bodyguards, who always stood on either side of him and held the nobility title of Ankobia.[4]
Ashanti Swords and shields of war (21st Century): changing needs and tactics
The Ashanti Akrafena (Sword of my Soul) was generally held in the hand by Ashanti Asafos. There was no real reason to hold it on their sides. However, they did strap it to their back at times when they were traveling through the rain-forest regions of Ashanti City-State or using other weapons such as spears and bows.[5] The Ashanti sword was first and foremost one-handed, though for more powerful strikes, two hands were used. The Ashanti techniques were generally hand and a half.[5]
Akrafena as an Ashanti national symbol
The Akrafena also an Ashanti national symbol, adopted by Ashanti City-State's emperor-king Asantehene Opoku Ware I in 1723. In this context it is known as Akofena.[6][7]
Heraldic description
The Blazon: 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 the swearing oaths of allegiance by subjects of Ashanti City-State. The akofena also may be carried as a heraldic device, by the Ashanti emperor's-king’s emissaries on Ashanti City-State diplomatic missions. In such situations the meaning associated with the symbol embossed on the sheath conveys the message of the mission. Blade of an afenatene sword showing the akoma (heart), denkyem (crocodile), akuma (axe) and the sankofa bird.[8]
The Ashanti national symbol Akrafena description:
- The Akrafena is a prominent symbol of the Ashantis in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries into the 21st century;
The Akrafena as an Ashanti national symbol has the escutcheon meaning; Akrafena ("Symbol of courage, valor, and heroism").
History
The Ashanti Akrafena sword as an Ashanti City-State national symbol was used by the Asantehene in taking the oath of office as ruler of Ashanti City-State. The Omanhene used the Ashanti Akrafena sword to swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene and Ashanti City-State.[6] The Ashanti Akrafena sword is one of the four principal state swords of the Ashanti City-State. The first Ashanti Akfrafena sword was created by Asantehene Nana Opoku Ware I (r. 1731 – 1742), and is the foremost example of Akrafena. The mpomponsuo sword symbolizes Responsibility, Power, Loyalty, Bravery, and Authority.[6]
Akofo (Master swordsmen)
---- The Demonstration of the Ashanti Akrafena
Asafo (warriors/Warrioresses) are in Ashantiland and in the Asantehene's court and progress through four tiers of rank, at times referred to as levels, there are:
- The Afenasoafoo (Ashantiland's Sword bearers): Afenasoafoo is a child, an Akofo-in-training;[4]
- The Adumfoo (Ashantiland's Executioners): Adumfoo is an apprentice;[4]
- The Akofo Abrafoo (Ashantiland's Military police): Abrafoo is interchangeably referred to as "Akofo";[4]
- The Akofo Asafo (Ashantiland's Warriors / Professional Soldiers);[4]
- The Akofo Ankobia (Highest rank: Ashantiland's Special forces): Ankobia is the oldest, most experienced and best trained of all Akofo. A Ankobia is chosen by the Akofo council.[4]
Schools of swordsmanship
There are Ashanti City-State schools that hold the techniques of these swords practitioners in the past. The schools hold the genuine Ashanti Swords techniques.[4]
It is said that there were 20 fighting postures in training; The Ashanti people practitioners of the past generally used low kicking techniques to distract, dismantle and disable the opponent when holding the sword in one hand and sheath in the other. The sword-based fighting techniques is similar in part to that of Eskrima and the combat hand-techniques and kicking techniques is similar in part to that of Wing Chun.[4]
Contemporary swordsmiths (bladesmiths)
There is a host of Ashanti swordsmiths (bladesmith) in each five of the six Ashanti ɔman:
- Ashanti City-State ɔman (Asanteman)
- Brong-Ahafo ɔman (Bonoman)
- Central Ashantiland ɔman
- Eastern Ashantiland ɔman
- Western Ashantiland ɔman
In addition to an Ashanti swordmith being self-taught like other contemporary Ashanti swordsmiths, the Ashanti swordsmiths have also received training, by an Ashanti master swordsmith.[4]
Akrafokonmu (Ashanti Shield of war)
---- The Ashantis Shield historically used during Ashanti wars
Early European visitors to Ashanti City-State, described dazzling displays of court regalia at the court of the Asantehene in Kumasi.[5] Ashanti City-State's natural gold resources had made the Ashanti people ethnic group wealthy and court regalia, which included textiles (kente), ivory and gold, reflected high levels of Ashanti City-State's skill.[5]
The Akrafokonmu (Ashanti Shield) is made out of iron and cast in gold. The Akrafokonmu was threaded onto a stick to which white pineapple fibre cord was tied to the ends so that it could be worn around the neck by those responsible for the ritual purification of the Asantehene's soul.[5] The Ashantis call the shields "Akrafokonmu", usually translated as "soul discs" or "soul washers' badges".[5]
This shield's design of a quartered circle has been identified as 'nkwantaanan' ('nkwan' ‘paths’ or ‘roads’, 'anan' ‘four’). Crossroads were considered to be places of spiritual and cultural significance.[5]
Gallery
-
Ashanti 18th to 19th centuries Gold Akrafena.
-
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Ashanti 18th to 19th centuries Silver Akrafena.
-
Ashanti Middle Ages Akrafena.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Collins and Burns (2007), p. 140.
- 1 2 3 4 Davidson (1991), p. 240.
- 1 2 Collins and Burns (2007), p. 139.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Davidson (1991), p. 242.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Collins and Burns (2007), pp. 140–141.
- 1 2 3 Symbols of Ashanti: Akofena
- ↑ Ashanti Community, Society, History and Culture
- ↑ Akua, Nana; Opokuwaa, Kyerewaa (2005). Ashanti Protocol: Remembering the Traditions of Our Ancestors. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-4759-2048-2.
External links
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