Nurturing the next wave of brewers, the first African black female brewery owner in South Africa educates fledgling brewing talent.
**Trailblazing Brewster Transforms South African Beer Industry**
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, a groundbreaking figure in the South African beer industry, has become the first Black female craft brewery owner in the country. With a microbiology degree and a passion for beer, Nxusani-Mawela is not only brewing unique African beers but also training a new generation of brewers at her microbrewery in Johannesburg.
Nxusani-Mawela's Brewsters Academy, launched earlier this year, aims to transform the South African beer industry by encouraging diversity and empowering young Black graduates and women. The academy's classes, which last six months followed by another six months on work placement, teach students the art of beer making in a comprehensive manner, covering steps such as malt, mill, mash, lauter, boil, ferment, and filter.
Nxusani-Mawela's Tolokazi Beer line, brewed at the Wynberg-based microbrewery, is renowned for its fusion of indigenous knowledge and heritage. Her beers, like the award-winning Wild African Soul, incorporate uniquely African flavours such as marula fruit and rooibos bush, offering a taste of Africa in every sip. The Wild African Soul, a blend of African Umqombothi beer and a fruity, fizzy Belgian Saison beer, won the 2025 African Beer Cup, further cementing Nxusani-Mawela's reputation as an innovative brewmaster.
Nxusani-Mawela's work extends beyond brewing exceptional beers. She is also dedicated to preserving traditional African beer styles for future generations. Lethabo Seipei Kekae, a beer enthusiast, found Nxusani-Mawela's rooibos beer to be smooth, even for those who are not regular beer drinkers, demonstrating the accessibility of these unique brews.
Nxusani-Mawela hails from the rural town of Butterworth, some 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away, but her impact on the South African beer industry is far-reaching. Her goal is not just to be the first Black female brewery owner but to ensure that this is no longer a unique occurrence within the industry. The Brewsters Academy, with its students holding chemical engineering, biotechnology, or analytical chemistry degrees and diplomas, is a step towards normalizing the presence of Black people and women in the South African beer industry within the next decade.
Lehlohonolo Makhethe, a student at the Brewsters Academy, sees learning beer making as a return to traditional roles for women in some African cultures. Nxusani-Mawela's work is not just about brewing beer; it's about empowering a new generation, challenging industry norms, and celebrating African heritage. As an international beer judge and taster, Nxusani-Mawela is not only changing the South African beer industry but also making her mark on the global beer scene.
- Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, with her background in microbiology and passion for technology, aims to revolutionize the global beer industry, not just in South Africa, by empowering a diverse workforce through education-and-self-development programs like her Brewsters Academy.
- As the founder of Tolokazi Beer, a business that merges traditional African knowledge with modern technology, Nxusani-Mawela is creating a unique lifestyle brand that embodies the fusion of science and culture, offering innovative beers that represent the flavors of Africa in the realm of finance and commerce.
- Besides her renowned Tolokazi Beer line, Nxusani-Mawela is also dedicated to preserving traditional African brewing methods for future generations, ensuring that the rich heritage of African science and technology is carried on and celebrated.
- By winning prestigious awards such as the 2025 African Beer Cup with her Wild African Soul beer, Nxusani-Mawela is showcasing the potential for innovation and creativity in the beer industry, making Microsoft-like strides that challenge industry norms and open up new possibilities for growth and development.
- With the success of her Brewsters Academy and the launch of Tolokazi Beer, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela is more than just a trailblazing figure in the South African beer industry; she is an inspiration for young Black graduates, women, and anyone seeking to make a difference in the realm of business, technology, and lifestyle, pushing against the status quo and breaking barriers in the process.
