African hardwoods cover some of the most useful and most distinctive timbers in the world: species that shrug off weather, carry deep colour, and in several cases stand in for far more expensive woods. This guide walks through the African species you are most likely to meet in the UK trade, what each is actually like to use, and where to be careful.
Iroko - the teak alternative
Iroko is probably the best known African hardwood in Britain. Golden to medium brown, very durable outdoors without treatment, and noticeably cheaper than teak, it has long been the practical choice for garden furniture, boat trim, worktops and exterior joinery. The grain is often interlocked, so it can pick up in the plane, but it machines well overall and stays put once seasoned. If a project asks for teak on looks and weather resistance, iroko is usually the first sensible substitute.
Sapele - the mahogany of modern joinery
Sapele took over much of the work genuine mahogany used to do. Reddish brown with a fine, often ribbon-striped figure, it is harder than American mahogany, durable enough for exterior doors and windows, and consistent enough for long production runs. It is the default hardwood for high-quality external door and window manufacture in the UK, and it polishes beautifully for interior work.
Ekki - the heavyweight
Ekki (also called azobe) is one of the hardest and heaviest commercial timbers anywhere. Dark red-brown, extremely durable, and so dense it will not float, it is a marine and civil engineering timber: lock gates, jetties, bridge decking, sea defences. It is hard on tools and rarely a furniture wood - but where a structure has to sit in water for decades, ekki is on the shortlist.
Wenge - the dark one
Wenge is prized for its colour: a deep chocolate brown, almost black when finished, with a strong straight grain. It is a favourite for contemporary furniture, flooring accents and turned work. It is dense, splintery to work, and its dust is an irritant, so it demands respect in the workshop - but visually almost nothing else does what wenge does without stain.
Obeche (abachi) - the light one
Obeche, sold in some markets as abachi, sits at the opposite end of the scale: pale creamy yellow, very light, soft for a hardwood and easy to work. Its most famous modern use is sauna interiors - it stays cool to the touch and is virtually knot-free - alongside mouldings, drawer sides and pattern-making. It is not durable outdoors, so keep it inside or treat it.
Choosing between them
A rough rule of thumb for the African species in this guide:
- Outdoors, structural, wet: ekki first, iroko for joinery-scale work.
- External doors and windows: sapele is the trade standard.
- Dark, dramatic interiors: wenge.
- Light, fine, indoor work: obeche.
Every species page linked above carries the full fact sheet: durability class, density, workability, movement and typical uses, with images. For the wider picture, browse the A to Z of timbers in the wood database.
A note on sourcing
Several African species have been over-harvested historically, and some related timbers are CITES-listed. Buy from suppliers who can show chain-of-custody certification (FSC or PEFC) for the species in this guide - all of them are available certified, and the certified route protects both the forests and your project paperwork. Our guide to identifying FSC certification and sustainable wood labels covers what to look for.
