Since the beginning of time women have been involved in brewing, although brewing has been perceived by western countries as a male dominated profession for the last 150 years, historically women carried out this activity.
Brewing was an outgrowth of baking practices, which were mostly women’s roles around the world, according to ethnographic and geographical studies. Women were the main brewers on all inhabited continents from the first evidence of brewing around 700 BCE to the commercialization of brewing during industrialization.
In South Africa and counties all around the world, beer is revered as a divine gift of joy love, happiness, and spirituality.
South Africa has produced beer for more than a century. South African Breweries (SAB) have dominated the continent of Africa. However, a number of craft brewers are also making waves in the industry.
South Africa Brew master Apiwe Nxusani Mawela was born in 1984, she grew up in Butterworth Eastern Cape South Africa. Although her parents intended her to study medicine, she had other plans, her passion lied in science at a young age, and grew more interested in biology, microbiology, and biotechnology.
South African beer (umqombothi) is the center of attention when it comes to beverages in traditional ceremonies. Nxusani-Mawela experienced brewing for the first time at various family events, hence the first beer she made was a sorghum pilsner, which has the typical umqombothi Flavor but wasn’t particularly thick in texture, she begun professionally brewing in the year 2007.
Nxusani-Mawela is the first South African to receive a national diploma in clear fermented beverages, she is also the first black women to open a microbrewery.
Brewster craft was founded in 2015, the company offered professional brewery service by doing quality testing while also educating students about the science of brewing beer. The company’s academy has received accreditation from the institute of brewing and distilling to provide training leading to the General Certificate in Brewing and Diploma in Brewing.
The company was based in Johannesburg Roodepoort and had a fully equipped 1000l brewery as well as laboratory services. It had a need noteworthy for being South Africa’s first majority owned black female enterprise.
Due to the Covid-19-related restrictions on the sale of alcohol, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela was forced to close her brewery in the year 2021. She is, however, bouncing back strongly.
She observed the decline of her once-thriving business during months of widespread prohibitions on the selling of alcohol and had to let go of Brewster Craft. However she is currently making a strong comeback.
The beauty of innovation is that it is an ongoing process that gives birth to greater things, Tolokazi Beer is not a new brand but a revamp of the Brewster Craft range, it was first introduced in 2019. One important way to help reduce harmful drinking is providing consumers with low alcoholic and nonalcoholic beers, Tolokazi Beer has tapped into that trend in the industry by offering beer without alcohol.
The brand name is derived from Nxusani-Mawela’s clan name, Tolokazi , which she describes as being more significant to the Xhosa people than a surname. The clan’s name is Tolo and the women from the clan are known as Tolokazi. Tolokazi Beer uses native African flavors in their pilsner, sorghum lager, African pale ale, cider, and nonalcoholic beer. They also use South African hops, rooibos, and hibiscus.
Tolokazi Beer is one of the largest and most successful beer brands that utilizes creative and ecological development strategies to preserve a competitive advantage. One-way Tolokazi Beer has accomplished this is through successful development and giving back.
A youth program called Inkciyo Eastern Cape aims to empower young people from rural regions by celebrating African Arts and Culture, this is a program that Nxusani-Mawela holds in the highest regard and has been able to provide the team with financial support.
Tolokazi Beer is an organization that is rooted from culture and heritage, this can also be utilized as a form of market in the business world considering the significance of beverage in cultural ceremonies.
The ceremony known as umgidi is performed in the Xhosa culture to honor the return of a boy from initiation school, Ulwaluko as the Xhosa tribe calls it is long standing initiation rite that is frequently practiced throughout South Africa not only by the Xhosa people. Tolokazi Beer has had the honor to serve their beverages in these ceremonies.
She has participated in planning of IWCB (International women’s Collaboration Brew Day) activities in South Africa. 2022 was a great year for Tolokazi Beer, where Tolokazi made it into an institution of Higher learning assessment paper.
Some of Tolokazi Beer Highlights for the year 2021
3 Awards
The African Beer Cup 2021, Capital Craft owners’ choice sorghum pilsner and the WINEMAG LABEL DESIGN AWARD 2021 for the beer in series people’s choice award.
Best features
- Tiny Keg Craft Beer Box, Makro Advent Calendar
- Craft Beer Box
- Beer52.com
Top 3 events
- Tolokazi Pop-ups
- Blacktoberfest
- Touch Local Craft Fest
Top 3 retailers
- Capital craft
- 86 Public
- Takelot.com
Top 3 Best sellers
- Lager
- Rooibos and Berry Cider
- Sorghum Pilsner
Nxusani-Mawela is a fierce advocate for female brewers, with the aim to showcase her African Heritage because historically, women have brewed the beer. She recognized that the South African Craft industry was expanding.
SAB released Bold brew in August 2019 to concede with women’s month, this is a limited-edition beer that was fully created and brewed by women. Brewsters Craft produced it, with Nxusani-Mawela in charge of the production. What a way to embrace women in the industry, showcase the heritage of our country and continent and what we are capable of accomplishing against all odds.