A Tree Across Tropical & Southern Africa
Kigelia africana is native across tropical and southern Africa, where it occurs in savanna, wooded grassland, riverine forest and forest margins.
More Than 400 Names
More than 400 vernacular names have been recorded for the species, reflecting how widely the tree became known across its enormous native range.
Sausage Trees are regarded as sacred by many communities and have often been deliberately preserved on farmland when surrounding trees were removed.
Beer, Timber & Everyday Life
In Kenya, the fruit has traditionally been used in the fermentation of sugar-cane and honey beers among communities including the Kamba, Kikuyu, Mbeere, Embu, Tharaka, Giriama and Digo.
The timber has been used for practical objects including stools, mortars, milk vessels, beehives, boxes and canoes. In Malawi, extensive cutting for canoe timber became significant enough for the tree to receive protection.
Across its native range, Kigelia africana has therefore been far more than an ornamental curiosity. It has been named, retained and used as part of practical and cultural life over generations.
