Aspects of Beekeeping and Honey Harvesting

By John DominisLIFE Photo Collection

Beekeeping: an ancient practice

Beekeeping is an ancient practice that has existed over thousands of years along human civilizations. The first development of beekeeping culture is associated with the Egyptians and is believed to have started in 4500BC. Bee keeping continues to be practiced even in the present day, and diverse types of beehives exist not only in Africa but throughout the world.

Imenti Beekeeper by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

Aspects of traditional beekeeping in Kenya


In Kenya the most well-known communities involved in beekeeping include those living in and around key forests found on Mount Elgon, Mount Kenya, Aberdare ranges and Mau Escarpment.

Boni Beekeeper by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

Passing on the knowledge


Knowledge on beekeeping was mostly passed on from generation to generation, mainly from fathers to sons. It was traditionally considered a men’s activity, and women would only accompany the men to carry the honey back home.

Albizia gumifera by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

Nectar source


The flowers of the Peacock plant (Albizia gumifera) are an important nectar source for bees. The Peacock plant is native to most of the botanical regions in Kenya, excluding the arid Northern region.

By Wallace KirklandLIFE Photo Collection

Beekeepers and their tools

Traditionally, Kenyan communities had different approaches to beekeeping and the designs of their beehives. 

Ndorobo honey collector by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

The Ogiek beekeepers


Today the Ogiek people are the last remaining forest dwellers. Their name literally means ‘the caretaker of all plants and wild animals’. In her paintings, the artist Joy Adamson referred to the Ogiek as 'Dorobo', but this is a derogatory name meaning “a people without livestock” in the Maa language.


Traditionally the Ogiek would harvest honey at night, in case of aggressive bees, and placed it in a honey bag made from antelope skin. They didn't require protective clothing and they would smoke the bees out of the hive using plants from the forest.

Bee Hive (1959)National Museums of Kenya

The Ogiek beehive


Hives were placed high on trees in the forest to protect them from honey badgers. To harvest honey, they would climb to the hive with a smoker to calm the bees. The hives were hollow and made with an axe.

BeehiveNational Museums of Kenya

The Wanga beehive


This beehive was made by weaving, and then smeared with a mix of cow dung and clay soil to seal the spaces. It has a handle, which was used to tie the hive on the tree.

Bee HiveNational Museums of Kenya

The Zubaki Pokomo beehive


This beehive is made from the wood of mkoma palm tree. The center was cut out and then socketed.

BeehiveNational Museums of Kenya

The Pokot beehive


This beehive was made by men from a hollowed out log. The thatch was usually added to keep off the rain. The Pokot hung their hives up on trees to attract bees.

AxeNational Museums of Kenya

The Kipsigis axe


This axe was made of a wooden haft fitted with an iron metal head, and was used for carving beehives.

Imenti Beekeeper by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

The Imenti beekeepers


Illustrated is an Imenti beekeeper carrying his essential tools for harvesting, including special wood for smoking the beehive, a honey storage drum and leather bag.

Bee hive medicineNational Museums of Kenya

The Chuka 'kithuthungu kia'


This is a medicinal preparation by the Chuka, known locally as 'kithuthungu kia'. It would have been placed into a new hive to attract a queen bee to settle there. It was made from honey.

Bee Smoking Stick (1963)National Museums of Kenya

Bee smoking sticks used by the Igembe community


These bee smoking sticks from the Mwatha tree were used to smoke bees out of the beehive so honey could be collected.

FrondsNational Museums of Kenya

Fronds used by the Boni community


These fronds of mlala (down palm) tied together were known as mtungu by the Boni community. They would have been ignited and used to smoke out bees.

Honey KnifeNational Museums of Kenya

Mbeere harvesting knife


This is a knife used by Mbeere men to scrape honey out of the hives.

TwineNational Museums of Kenya

Twine used by the Pokomo community


This roll of creeper twine would have been used for tying beehives up in a tree. When the beehive was tied onto the tree, the beekeepers would wait up to six months before they got any honey from it.

Honey BarrelNational Museums of Kenya

Marakwet honey barrel


This honey barrel made from wood by the Marakwet was used by men for storing honey.

Honey CalabashNational Museums of Kenya

Gourds for carrying honey and water


This gourd from the Kikuyu was made by women, who used it for storing honey or, sometimes, water. The Maasai and Kipsigis used the same gourds for carrying honey, milk or water over long distances.

Honey CalabashesNational Museums of Kenya

Gourd used by the Endo Marakwet community


This is a huge honey collecting gourd. The mouth has been cut and the contents removed. Wood of the sototwo tree was then put inside, it was filled with water, and left for six days. It was used only by old men to collect honey from bee hives in the forest.

Honey bagNational Museums of Kenya

The Endo honey bag


This leather bag (Togel) was made from Buffalo skin by old men for carrying honey from the forest. It was sewn with cow sinew.

Bees by Eric SchaalLIFE Photo Collection

Traditional uses of bee products

For the different communities in Kenya, honey plays an important role as food, while beeswax is mostly used as a sealant. Among the Kamba, honey was also used for medicinal purposes, either in pure form or as a mixture with a variety of herbal remedies. At the National Museums of Kenya, research is being undertaken to ascertain that  bees truly support our ecosystem through pollination and providing food to people world over. 

Honey Beer Container (1962)National Museums of Kenya

Honey beer made by the Kikuyu and Kamba communities


Traditionally the Kikuyu and the Kamba would brew their traditional beer, 'muratina', using honey in place of sugar.

AbuNational Museums of Kenya

Beeswax as adhesive for making the Abu


The Abu was an important ceremonial musical instrument used by the Luo. It was made from several gourds stuck together using beeswax, and tied with the bark of the 'powo' (grewia) tree.

Credits: Story

Learn more about the National Museums of Kenya by visiting our website.

Exhibit Curators: Immelda Kithuka, Archivist.imuoti@museums.or.ke and Mercy Gakii,Cultural Expert, Cultural Heritage Department.
mkinyua@museums.or.ke

Photography and Creative Direction: Gibson Maina and Muturi Kanini. Gibs Photography

Exhibit Layout: Barnabas Ngei.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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