High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Akrafena (Akan swords) is an Akan sword that is originally meant for Akan warfare purposes, and have assumed certain Akan political and ritual functions. They carry Akan Adinkra symbols that evoke specific messages. The Akan sword has three parts: a blade, usually made of some metal or iron; 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 Akan symbolic designs on it. Some Akan swords have double blades (afenata) or triple blades (mfenasa). The hilt is usually made of wood or metal, and may be wrapped with gold leaf with various Akan symbols worked onto it. The hilt itself may be carved to encode an Akan symbol. The sheath may carry an embossment (abosodee) that comprises of Akan 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 it`s mouth. This conveys the Akan 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.