Ovangkol (shedua)

Overview

Ovangkol (Guibourtia ehie) is a yellowish to reddish brown wood with darker brown, grey or black stripes, sometimes curly or mottled. It goes by the most names of any wood: shedua, amazique, amazoue and Mozambique. It is a Guibourtia but, unlike bubinga, is not CITES-listed.

Pros

• Striped yellowish to reddish brown, sometimes curly.
• Janka 1,330 lbf, about 825 kg/m3.
• Good availability as lumber and veneer; fairly easy to work.
• Moderately durable with good insect resistance.
• IUCN Least Concern; not CITES-listed.

Cons

• Silica can dull cutters.
• Tear-out on interlocked or figured grain.
• Shrinkage is moderate (4.3% radial, 8.3% tangential, T/R 1.9).
• Many trade names cause confusion.
• Figured wood costs more.

Variants and subspecies

• Guibourtia ehie: the only species. Sold as ovangkol (guitars), shedua or amazique (woodworkers) and Mozambique (veneer).
• Look-alike: Bubinga is another Guibourtia, but CITES-listed and Endangered in part.

Working and finishing

Carbide tools and light cuts on interlocked grain.

Staining and finishing colour

Mostly finished clear to show the stripe.

Sustainability and handling

CITES: not listed (Wood Database; APHIS CITES Timber Species Manual, checked 2026-09-30). Other Guibourtia (bubinga) are listed, so check the species name. IUCN: Least Concern (Wood Database). FSC availability is not verified here. The US Lacey Act makes it unlawful to trade wood taken or exported in breach of the source country's laws (fws.gov/law/lacey-act), so buy from dealers who can name the country and species. If a piece will be exported to or sold in the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (the EUDR) requires due-diligence evidence that wood products are deforestation-free and legally produced; check its current application date with your buyer.

Ethical call: a sensible alternative to Bubinga. Health: no reactions reported beyond standard dust risks. The US National Cancer Institute reports strong, consistent associations between wood-dust exposure and cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses, so use extraction and a respirator when sanding.

Popular projects

Guitar backs and sides, furniture, cabinetry, veneer, flooring and turned objects.

Buying notes

Bell lists 4/4 at $16.00 and Woodworkers Source at $16.99 per board foot (September 2026) as shedua. Confirm the botanical name.