Basket Case

I had a request from an African Friend to assist her with beekeeping.
Obviously I checked the Internet to see what had been done already in her area.
I was shocked!
The Poorest 
of the Poor are instructed by well meaning European Beekeepers how to keep bees in the massive American Boxes with theirmoveable frames which require [non-existant] electric power andcostly extraction equipment as well as the fully enclosed armour of the modern beekeeper.
Then there are the top bar hives which seem to be better for the villager but how many poverty stricken villagers possess a wood plane to smooth off the laths to which the bees will - hopefully attach their honey combs?
Oh Yes ! you need to be able to examine your bees and manipulate the combs - just like we do!
Oh No! you don't
African bees are a different race to the european bees and are migratory. One touch from the beekeeper will send them swirling off into the bush searching for a quieter spot to live.
So I recommended to my friend to get some large local baskets - smear the inside withcowdung provide a well waxed lid, Hang in a tree or put on the roof and leave alone. Bees are numerous in Africa.
Eventually scout bees will scent the wax under the basket lid and a swarm will arrive.
The trick now is to get the honey before they swarm again - without disturbing them whatever.
The Colony Collapse Disorder creating all those empty Marie Celeste Beehives was most likely caused by enthusiastic beekeepers opening up the nest, causing stress and bothering them to death.
Perhaps Africa can show us another way - that is if we eager beekeepers stop interfering!