Leading the Way in a Male-Dominated Industry
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela is believed to be the first Black woman in South Africa to own a craft brewery. Now 41 years old, she’s using her success to teach and guide other women into the business of brewing.
Her brewery, Tolokazi, sits just outside Johannesburg. There, she works closely with students, especially young Black women, who want to learn the art and science of brewing.
Brewsters Academy Trains the Next Generation
Nxusani-Mawela also runs Brewsters Academy, a training space for young brewers. Many of her 13 current students already hold STEM degrees in fields like chemical engineering and biotechnology.
At the academy, students not only learn brewing techniques but also earn official brewing certifications. It’s all part of Nxusani-Mawela’s vision to prepare more women for leadership roles in South Africa’s booming beer industry.
A Billion-Dollar Industry Needs More Women
South Africa’s beer industry is big business. It supports more than 200,000 jobs and adds about $5.2 billion to the economy. Yet, very few Black women have had access to this wealth—until now.
Nxusani-Mawela says she’s determined to change that. “I wanted to make sure that, being the first Black female to own a brewery in South Africa, I’m not the first and the last,” she told the Associated Press.
Brewing as a Return to African Roots
Some students, like 24-year-old Lehlohonolo Makhethe, say women are not new to beer. “Women once dominated beer brewing in parts of Africa,” she said. “We’re just going back to our roots.”
Nxusani-Mawela agrees. She teaches modern brewing but also keeps African traditions alive. Her Wild African Soul beer blends fruity notes with the creamy taste of Umqombothi, a traditional brew made from maize and sorghum.
Winning with Tradition and Innovation
Wild African Soul won the 2025 African Beer Cup, a major prize in African brewing. The beer was made with Soul Barrel Brewing, blending old African flavors with modern craft techniques.
Nxusani-Mawela believes beer should tell a story. “Umqombothi is our African way,” she said. “The beer styles that we make need to reflect having an element of our past brought into the future.”
Through her work, she is creating space for Black women in beer—not just as drinkers, but as leaders, creators, and owners.
