Iv got one of these Iwisa too (and a few more), the 'flats' are usually a bit sunken or dished, to keep them from cracking due to drying out, they'd store them with one of the flats up, and with a blob of fat that would infiltrate the wood. Next time they's turn it so the other flat was uppermost & blob that side. The lubs were made by vassal tribes, usually Shona as tribute, out of 'assegai' wood, a strong tough rosewood variant. The spherical centred ball ones usually do not have the flats. You rub the whole thing in fat or veggy oil.
Modern Zulu and Shona do wirework with assorted color plastic covered telephone wire. in the old times they had the technology to make iron and copper wire to decorate their weapons and other items.
Mine: (seller's photo I kept)
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