A Beer Pioneer, South Africa’s First Black Female Brewery Owner Trains a New Generation

July 7, 2025

Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, a 41-year-old beer brewing master and the first Black woman to own a craft brewery in South Africa, is teaching 13 young Black graduates (mostly women) the art of beer making at her Brewsters Academy in Johannesburg. The students, who already hold science-related degrees, undergo a year-long program with six months of exploring beer varieties followed by work placement. Nxusani-Mawela aims to transform South Africa's $5.

Who is affected

Young Black graduates with science backgrounds (chemical engineering, biotechnology, analytical chemistry)
Women in the brewing industry
Students at Brewsters Academy
South Africa's beer industry workforce
Consumers of craft and traditional African beers
Black people seeking opportunities in the brewing sector

What action is being taken

Nxusani-Mawela is teaching brewing classes to 13 young Black graduates at her Brewsters Academy
Students are learning comprehensive brewing processes including malting, milling, mashing, lautering, boiling, fermenting, and filtering
Nxusani-Mawela is creating innovative beers that blend traditional African brewing methods with modern techniques
Efforts are underway across South Africa to include more women in the brewing industry
Nxusani-Mawela is working to preserve traditional African beer styles for future generations

Why it matters

Nxusani-Mawela is breaking barriers as the first Black woman to own a craft brewery in South Africa
The beer industry supports over 200,000 jobs and contributes $5.2 billion to South Africa's GDP
The initiative helps transform a male-dominated industry by creating opportunities for women
The program preserves traditional African brewing methods that might otherwise be lost
It reclaims women's historical role in brewing in African cultures
The effort creates innovative African-inspired beer varieties using native ingredients like marula fruit and rooibos

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint