Reitumetse Kholumo, a 25-year-old entrepreneur and chemical engineering student and Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2022 Alumni, is on a mission to empower South African traditional beer makers and promote indigenous knowledge systems. Her company, Kwela Brews, aims to address the challenges faced by women who brew traditional African beer, such as inconsistent buyers and competition from low-cost alternatives. Kwela Brews acts as a distributor, paying the women for their brews and supplying them with ingredients. They have started testing the market at local events and have partnered with a restaurant to expand their reach.
Kholumo's vision goes beyond brewing beer; she aims to create a culture where indigenous brews are more widely enjoyed and promoted. Kholumo is determined to scale up the distribution of homegrown alcohol and eventually obtain certification for the benefits of gut microbiomes. Through her efforts, she hopes to showcase the potential and cultural richness of traditional African brewing practices, promoting local products and knowledge.