What is ayous/wawa?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Tropical hardwood · referenceAyous and wawa
Two trade names for the same tree, and there are two more. Pale, exceptionally light and loved by anyone who has to make something from it.
- Triplochiton scleroxylon
- Ayous · wawa · samba · obéché
- Indoors only
AyousTriplochiton scleroxylon
Ayous and wawa
Two trade names for the same tree, and there are two more. Pale, exceptionally light and loved by anyone who has to make something from it.
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Ayous in brief
Trade names for the wood of Triplochiton scleroxylon, family Sterculiaceae, from tropical Central and West Africa.
Which name you hear depends on the country of origin: ayous comes from Cameroon, wawa from Ghana, samba from Ivory Coast and obéché from Nigeria. It is always the same tree and the same wood — one of the clearest examples of how confusing trade names can be.
The wood is pale to light grey, remarkably light in weight and very even in structure. It saws, planes and sands effortlessly, and it takes lacquer and stain evenly. That is exactly why it turns up wherever a lot of surface has to be worked quickly.
Each colonial trade route gave the wood its own name, and those names stuck in the countries that built their imports on it. For a buyer, this means the same species can be on offer from three suppliers under three names, at three prices. Ask for the botanical name.
- Botanical
- Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum.
- Family
- Sterculiaceae
- Origin
- tropical Central and West Africa
- Names
- ayous (Cameroon), wawa (Ghana), samba (Ivory Coast), obéché (Nigeria)
- Colour
- pale to greyish
- Use
- indoors only
To be fair: ayous is not durable and is very soft. It has no place outdoors, and even indoors it dents easily — it is not a good choice for a tabletop or a stair handrail. Its dust can also irritate the airways during prolonged sanding.
What characterises ayous
Very light
One of the lightest tropical broadleaf species — easy to handle, even in large panels.
Pale to greyish
A neutral colour without pronounced figure, which makes it suitable for lacquering or staining in any shade.
Even structure
Little contrast between the growth zones, so it cuts and planes predictably in every direction.
Soft
The flip side of that ease: it dents easily and is not hard-wearing.
What ayous is used for
| Use | Suitable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mouldings and profiles | Excellent | Light, even and easy to mill |
| Interior cladding | Excellent | Large surfaces without the weight |
| Sauna benches | Good | Light, resin-free and it does not get hot to the touch |
| Model making and scale models | Excellent | Soft and dimensionally stable |
| Core for veneer | Widely used | Light, stable substrate |
| Outdoor work | Unsuitable | Not durable |
Ayous is light, but it is not balsa. Balsa is around 150 kg/m³ and too soft for carpentry; ayous is considerably heavier and does work as a structural indoor wood.
Frequently asked questions about ayous and wawa
Is ayous the same as wawa?
Yes. Ayous, wawa, samba and obéché are all trade names for Triplochiton scleroxylon — the same tree, different countries of origin.
Can ayous be used outdoors?
No. It is not durable and it is soft. For outdoors, look at teak, acacia or pressure-treated wood.
What is ayous best suited for?
Mouldings, interior cladding, sauna benches and as a light core under veneer. Anywhere weight and workability count and wear resistance does not.
Why does ayous have so many names?
Each trade route gave the wood its own name: ayous from Cameroon, wawa from Ghana, samba from Ivory Coast, obéché from Nigeria. Ask for the botanical name to compare.
Ayous in perspective
One tree, four names — and the lightest usable hardwood in Africa.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Triplochiton scleroxylon — Tim van de Staak, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Triplochiton scleroxylon — Ensahequ, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Triplochiton scleroxylon — Akouete, CC BY-SA 4.0