Traditional Ecological Knowledge and non-food uses of stingless bee honey in Kenya’s last pocket of tropical rainforest

Ethnopharmacological relevance Stingless bee honey is a natural remedy and therapeutic agent traditionally used by indigenous communities across the (sub-)Tropics. Despite the potential of forest honey, a prime non-timber forest product (NTFP), to revitalize indigenous foodways and to generate income in rural areas, reports on Traditional Ecological Knowledge involving stingless bees and their honey are lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aim: of the study: Our aim was to explore, understand and document the non-food uses of stingless bee honey and associated empirical knowledge in Kenya’s only tropical rainforest at Kakamega. Materials and Methods We used ethnographic techniques and methods, including semi-structured questionnaires and recording devices. Results People in Kakamega were able to discriminate between six different stingless bee species and provided an account on species-specific uses of honeys. Collectively, we identified 26 different uses. Conclusion Stingless bee honey is essential in traditional (folk) medicine, but also in the cultural and spiritual life of indigenous communities in Kakamega.