“But what happened to the black woman who could not be absorbed into domestic service in the cities at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries? The only alternative occupation that was easy to adjust to … was beer brewing.”

Our work offers a profound new perspective on the role and  recognition of homebrewers, the women who have long been  the backbone of the Traditional Afrikan Beer industry. These women are not just producers  of beer; they are the heart and soul of their communities, nurturing  connections, preserving ancestral knowledge, and driving economic  progress. Despite their significant contributions, homebrewers are often  overlooked by policy frameworks that fail to recognize their potential in alleviating poverty and fostering community empowerment.  

Today, Afrikan women in South Africa remain the most vulnerable to unemployment, facing an expanded unemployment rate of 50%, 5x higher than  white men and women (Q2, 2024). Meanwhile, in 2020,  the market for homebrewed Traditional Afrikan Beer  was valued at ZAR 4.3 Billion (~USD 250 Million). We believe that acknowledging homebrewers as vital economic  actors is more important than ever. Our work confronts the stigmatizing  narratives that criminalize poverty and unjustly paint homebrewers as  immoral. By doing so, we aim to restore their rightful place as agents of  positive change and community builders.  

Our initiative is groundbreaking in the Traditional Afrikan Beer industry.  Unlike existing interventions, which either ignore the role of homebrewers  or attempt to divert consumers to low-cost alternatives, we are the first to  offer targeted support to these artisans. We merge the rich traditional  knowledge and agency of homebrewers with the resources of our youth-led  team, encompassing bioprocess engineering for quality assurance, sales  and marketing for broader distribution, and community and policy  engagement to foster an enabling environment. Together, we co-create a  world where the genuine flavors of Afrika are celebrated, and the women  who craft them are honoured.