State of knowledge and traditional uses of the organs of Kigelia africana in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

Background: Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. is a wild species whose organs have been used in multiple ways. Despite these multiple uses, there is very little scientific data relating to the use within the different socio-cultural groups of Benin. To fill this information gap which could hinder the sustainable conservation efforts of the species for the benefit of users, this ethnobotanical study was carried out in Benin.

Methods: Its objective is to assess ethnobotanical knowledge among major socio-cultural groups. The aim was to determine the levels of knowledge and use of the organs of Kigelia africana and to identify the different types of use of these organs in Benin. Focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in 26 municipalities to collect information from 1,210 people.

Results: The results showed that the variables socio-cultural group, gender, level of education and age group have a significant influence globally (p≤0.05) on the levels of knowledge and use. Furthermore, the socio-cultural groups Bariba, Dendi, Yao-Lokpa, Peulh and Ditamari use the organs of K. africana extensively in medicine. The socio-cultural groups Adja, Yoruba and Fon have a higher knowledge than the other socio-cultural groups. Elderly and adult people have higher levels of organ use in medicine than younger people. According to the gender, it turns out that men know better and use said organs much more than women. As for the level of education, the results showed that the uneducated people followed by those of the primary level have the highest frequencies of use in medicine than the people of the primary level.

Conclusions: This study provides basic information for the valorization of K. africana organs in Benin in West Africa.

Keywords: Ethnobotany, traditional knowledge, uses, Kigelia africana, Benin, West Africa