Aspects of Beekeeping and Honey Harvesting

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Zubaki Pokomo beehive

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

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.

The Kipsigis axe

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Mbeere harvesting knife

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

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.

Marakwet honey barrel

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.