What is Black Owned in Africa? Pt. 1
5 beautiful glass bottles of spirits growing out of the ground, surrounded by twigs and plants. The bottles? Dala, Uncle Nearest, Bayab, and Pedro’s Ogogoro.
5 Artisanal Spirit/Wine Brands that carry the vibe of the land
Pre notes:
At the time of publishing, #UncleNearest is in the news embroiled in legal and financial conflict. This article was written before this news came to light. And you know what? I’ve said what I’ve said. No edits have been made to the original content.
Also, the socio-political environment around immigrant Africans and multigenerational Black in the US has reached a heartbreak meter that is so perverse, I wanna curl up and just evaporate. But again. I’m saying what I’m saying. This is all part of the conversation.
I commence…
When I tell my friends in Diaspora that “just ‘cos you are in Africa don’t mean you’re supporting Black African-owned”, there’s always a pause. And then an eyes-widening. Because, for those of us who are a trying to be more #BuyBlack… we sometimes assume that shopping on the continent would ease the process. But 21 lo’ and m’fking behold, the veil is lifting.
I love-hate to be the harbinger of pills to swallow, but my good sib… when you look into the details you may realize:
you’re buying cheap/low-quality imports from somewhere else (not Africa)
the restaurants/hotels/clubs that you’re spending your money at aren’t owned by indigenes
The plane that brought you - (well…)
your people are relegated to 3rd and 5th class citizens in their homelands.
All this to say, if you wanna support the economy of people of African descent, it does require a bit more intention and attention.
But Nkei why you always gotta make it about race?
First, a lil woosah moment (for my benefit). Then, a tap on my eyeballs, to pause them from rolling (for your benefit). Then, as calmly as I can muster:
It’s not just about race, not just about Black. It’s about supporting the empowerment of the indigenous/local economy. It's about honoring those who’ve been stewarding and caring for a place, before it was ‘discovered’. It’s about reckoning with those who have to deal with the dire impacts of the landscape and economic pitfalls, and don’t get to just exit when things are not so fruitful.
The continent is rife with oppressive and destructive extraction of raw minerals and agricultural produce that leaves us at the mercy of external political whims. Natives don’t have access to local outputs. AND, an economy that heavily relies on imports of substandard and mystery products, just does not make sense.
An ogogoro shot for my ancestors in a shot glass against a raffia background in my beautiful Black hand.
Buying local is not just a vibe, it’s the smart and honorable thing to do. It regards the earth, and it supports an idea that, we as we are, where we’re from, are enough, and we have what we need.
When I was in Kenya, and said “I want to buy Kenyan-owned,” I had to go deeper, “not Kenyan-colonizer-owned.”
Because, how do I support the folks who have been here? Who are actively disenfranchised and socio-politically erased? ‘Cos why would I be in a place, and not use my money to uplift others like me who are the backbone of the culture that I appreciate?
That said, I’m really excited about continually discovering ‘local local’. Products sourced, produced and distributed in the place I’m at, by the people from there.
And with that I bring you a small (but growing list) of Small Batch/Handcrafted/Artisanal products that I’ve had in my hands, and done some look into where raw materials are sourced, and who founded/owns.
Dala | Agbalumo Liqueur | Nigeria @drinkdala
Created by Ore Ogunlesi this Udara/abgalumo liqueur brings out the girl who couldn’t wait to make chewing gum out of overchewed udara flesh. I’m not even an alcohol drinker but I love the bottle, the fragrance, and how the udara flavor really comes through.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Pedro’s Premium Ogogoro | 100% organic palm spirit | Nigeria @pedrosafrica
Call me a Pedro’s Ogogoro hag cos…I may or may not have purchased over 200 bottles of this product in the last two years. Iykyk. Again, not an alcohol drinker, but I’m obsessed with the craft of making something out of a beloved but under-regarded raw product. So, Sign. me. up. Also the label design? Ugh!! out
Uncle Nearest | Premium Whiskey | United States @unclenearest
The background and story of Uncle Nearest is an annual read to me. I read it. I cry. I’m insanely inspired. Fawn Weaver uncovered the story of Nearest Green and his role in the creation of Jack Daniel's, and was like BET! Black woman founder? Reclaiming, refixing, rewriting the errors and misconceptions in backstories about Black folks? Mounting a cultural icon, and giving Black craftpersonship, expertise, skill, and knowledge its due? Some really good (based on verdicts all around) tasting products? LISTEN. If you don’t RUN and get. Your. bottles. Right. Now.
Leleshwa wine | Sweet Wine | Kenya @leleshwa
My Kenyan homies put me on to this, after I begged and begged like “No I mean Kenyan Kenyan owned”…and lo and behold Black Kenyan owned wine brand that actually defied the topographical odds of where people say vineyards can exist.
Bayab Gin | Pan-African Gin | Pan Africa @bayabgin
The founders stated goal is to increase African representation in the liquor arena, and so they source ingredients from various countries on the continent to produce a line of spirits. I love how the Pan African vibe comes through in their flavor selections, and their bottle design and colors.
P.S: As a ‘default’ a lot of these are ‘Nigerian’, because that’s one of the places where I’m local, and I’m only featuring things I’ve actually had in hand, and have some insight into the source/ownership. I don’t get ‘out’ much but I hope I can encourage others to explore their own ‘local local’
