Original version

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service East Asia

The Conversation: Sweet honey and queen bees

Magazines & Reviews

Mokgadi Mabela and Agnes Tyburn

24/05/2021 GMT

Sweet honey and queen bees

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Sweet honey and queen bees

A scientist from Martinique and an entrepreneur from South Africa on why they keep bees

A scientist from Martinique and an entrepreneur from South Africa on how their grandfathers’ love of bees led to them to sell their own honey and teach others about bees.

Vital for the planet's health, bees are a key part of pollinating the world's fruits, flowers and crops. And beekeeping seems to be growing in popularity, even the Queen B, Beyoncé, has bee hives in her garden. Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women about what ignited their passion for bees and honey.

South African, Mokgadi Mabela was only interested in her father's bees because she thought they could make her money. She sold the honey to colleagues in her office in Pretoria. When demand became too great for her father and his network he suggested she start some hives of her own. She set up a family company Native Nosi, producing honey and other bee by-products for South Africa and beyond.   

Dr Agnes Tyburn grew up in Martinique where her grandfather kept a couple of bee hives. When she was doing her PhD in Organic Chemistry at Cambridge University in the UK she decided it would be nice to try beekeeping herself, despite not having a garden. She’s now set up Bee Sitter – offering online support, practical advice, mentoring and bee keeping courses. 

Produced by Jane Thurlow

IMAGE DETAILS
(L) Mokgadi Mabela 
(R) Agnes Tyburn

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Conversation

Sweet honey and queen bees

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

About BBC World Service