[Jim McDougall]

Andy thank you for posting this fascinating piece, and Barry for the great information and photos!
I agree this is likely Ashanti, but a precise classification would be extremely difficult with the complexity of variations of these arms, their purposes, and the heirachies of these forest kingdoms included in the confederation of Ashanti rule.
It seems that cutlass type weapons, along with the razor type weapons Colin has noted of Dahomey, were well established throughout these states and kingdoms. Christopher Spring has done a brilliant job of describing many of these and relies heavily on the outstanding article by Palau Marti, "Sabres decores du Dahomey" ('Objets et Mondes', VII:4, 1967).

I am inclined to think of this openwork cutlass as more likely to be the afena of Ashanti use rather than the afenatene, though the illustration of one of these with multiple openwork blades is clearly similar in the theme of the blade of the afenatene .It is tempting however, with the curious riveted swivel device, to think this perhaps might be for multiple blades to open wider to be stood vertically as in the illustration of the afenatene.

The broader neck seems though to be to support the dual spheres of the afena, clearly missing on this example. As Barry has noted, part of the significant theme of these swords was carried on the sheaths with devices of varying forms (abosodee) which might replicate many items telling of key events symbolically. Allegorical themes are important in these cultures in carrying forth thier history and traditions, which is exactly what the images and figures in these openwork blades are for.

While these are unsharpened and uniquely decorated swords used in symbolic gesture as regalia, they are based on various cutlass type swords often with the large rounded swirl blades which did find use in degree otherwise.