The purpose of this catalogue is to list the valid names, nomenclatorial history of, and references citing, the described bees of sub-saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands, excluding the honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus). The countries in which species occur are listed, as well as the type specimens/species of species/genera. Some ecological information is provided, namely flowers visited, plants used as nests, parasitic bees and host bees.