Afena
| Afena | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | sword |
| Designations: | Afena |
| Use: | Weapon, professional weapon, ceremonial weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Africa , Ashanti (Asante) ethnic groups |
| Distribution: | Africa |
| Overall length: | about 60 cm to 64 cm |
| Handle: | Wood, ivory |
| Particularities: | serves as a ceremonial sword |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Afena is a sword of the Ashanti from West Africa .
description
The Afena has a single-edged, bulbous blade. The blade has no central ridge and no hollow grind. It is usually broken up with traditional or cultural patterns. The booklet is usually made of wood. The handle and the pommel are designed in spherical shape and decorated with carvings.
Versions
The Afena swords are classified into two subgroups according to their use:
- Akrafena
The Akrafena is worn on the right side of the body. With its religious use it represents the soul and spiritual wellbeing of its wearer. Its magical powers, which are attributed to it by the Asante, serve as protection for the ruler, it is often subjected to a spiritual purification ceremony, which represents the purification of the soul. A special sword of this kind is the Bosummuru , on which the king takes the oath of state and which the kings use for dancing during their enthronement.
- Bosomfena
The Bosomfena is worn on the left side of the body. It represents the political and worldly authority, as well as the ego or the perceptible personality of the wearer. It also serves in an important ceremony in which a new ruler takes his personal oath of allegiance to the Asante people. A special sword of this type is the mponponsuo , which is larger than the others and richly decorated. It is used by all kings to take their oath on the state.
literature
- Werner Fischer, Manfred A. Zirngibl: African weapons. Knives, daggers, swords, axes, thrown weapons. Prinz-Verlag, Passau 1978, ISBN 3-9800212-0-3
- TC McCaskie: State and Society in Pre-Colonial Asante. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1995, ISBN 0-521-41009-6 ( African Studies. 79). Preview in Google Book Search
- Christopher Spring : African arms and armor. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC 1993, ISBN 1-56098-317-5 . Snippet view in Google Book Search
- Nana Kwaku Asiedu: Art and Chieftaincy in Ahwiaa Culture. Dissertation, Kumasi 2010.
Web links
- British Museum : Database of the British Museum , database from the British Museum , database from the British Museum
- Brooklyn Museum : Sword (Akrafena) in the Brooklyn Museum
Individual evidence
- ↑ picture at Hamill-gallery (accessed on September 28, 2009)
- ^ Douglas Fraser, Herbert M. Cole (Eds.): African Art and Leadership. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison 1972, ISBN 0-299-05824-7 , p. 145. ( limited preview in Google book search)
- ↑ Christopher Spring: African arms and armor. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC 1993, ISBN 1-56098-317-5 , p. 31.