What is Afrikulu?

The Wood Guide · The wood register

Tropical hardwood · reference

Afrikulu wood

Yellowish brown, versatile and with a soft natural lustre. You find it both in heavy construction and in fine furniture making.

Terminalia ivorensis
Also framiré, idigbo, emire
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria

Terminalia ivorensis

In pictures · Afrikulu wood1 / 6

Chapter 1 · The species

Afrikulu wood

Yellowish brown, versatile and with a soft natural lustre. You find it both in heavy construction and in fine furniture making.

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Summary

Afrikulu in brief

The commercial name for the wood of Terminalia ivorensis, family Combretaceae — also known as framiré, idigbo and emire.

The species occurs mainly in West Africa, with a significant presence in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. The wood is yellowish brown with a soft natural lustre that makes it attractive even without a finish.

Its appeal lies in its versatility: moderately durable, easy to work, pleasant in appearance and available in usable dimensions. That is why it turns up in a wide range of uses, from heavy construction to fine furniture making.

Four names, one species

Afrikulu, framiré, idigbo and emire all cover Terminalia ivorensis. That flood of names makes comparing difficult: the same species can be on offer at three suppliers under three names. Ask for the botanical name.

Botanical: Terminalia ivorensis
Family: Combretaceae
Other names: framiré, idigbo, emire
Origin: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria
Colour: yellowish brown with soft lustre
Durability: moderate

To be fair: afrikulu contains tannins that can leach out with moisture and stain light masonry or paving yellow to brown. For outdoor use above a light façade or white tiles, that is a real drawback — and it also reacts with iron.

Measurable

What characterises afrikulu

Yellowish brown with lustre

A warm, light tone with a soft natural lustre — unusual for a tropical hardwood.

Easy to work

Saws, planes and sands pleasantly; it holds fixings well.

Moderately durable

Enough for outdoor work above ground, not enough for ground or water contact.

Available in long lengths

Straight trunks yield usable lengths for joinery and construction.

Uses

What afrikulu is used for

Use	Suitable?	What to look for
Exterior joinery	Good	Stainless fixings; watch out for leaching
Furniture	Good	Attractive colour and lustre
Construction	Good	Strong enough, in usable lengths
Interior fit-out	Excellent	Warm in colour, finishes evenly
Above light paving	With caution	Tannins can cause yellowish-brown staining
Ground or water contact	Not recommended	Choose azobé, bilinga or robinia

Limiting leaching

Leave the boards outdoors for a few weeks before installation and rinse them repeatedly, so the worst is out. Cover adjacent light surfaces during the first months — the same approach as with merbau.