African sword??

[Protector]

Here is another Mom&Pop antique store find. The tag said 'old sword' with no other info and the person running the store had no history. The education I have received here on the forums leads me to believe African? The leather outside of the sheath is hard as rock and there appears to be marks/signs/initials pressed into backside. When I found it at the store the blade was next to the sheath and with some wiggling the blade will start into the sheath, but I don't want to damage anything. Is there some treatment I can give the inside of the sheath to soften/loosen it up? Any special advice on cleaning it? Thanks again for all the help you guys give.