What is the link between geology and Eswatini’s beer?
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What is the link between geology and Eswatini’s beer?
Eswatini’s local beer is named after Sibebe Rock, a prominent geological feature.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
It has become a WhyAfrica tradition to sample the local brew whenever we’re on the backroads of Africa. In Eswatini the people drink Sibebe.
A cold Sibebe is not bad on a hot and humid Eswatini afternoon, but I found the origin of the beer’s name more intriguing.
Summiting Sibebe Rock
Sibebe is named after Sibebe Rock, the second-largest granite dome in the world. Sibebe Rock is near Mbabane, the capital city of Eswatini and rises to about 1480m above sea level. Its summit is flat, making it a popular hiking destination.
Sibebe Rock is an estimated three billion years old and formed part of the Gondwana supercontinent, making it one the of the oldest rock formations in the region. The granite of which Sibebe Rock is composed is made up of intrusive igneous rock.
Historic Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine
About 40km from Sibebe Rock is the historic Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine, one of the oldest known iron ore mining operations in the world. Ngwenya mine is famous for its ancient mining activities, and it is believed that it was used by early human societies for the extraction of iron ore long before modern mining methods were developed.
Modern mining operations at Ngwenya began in the 1890s when iron ore was shipped out from Eswatini to the British Empire and to Europe.
The Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine Company was floated in the early 1900s and in the 1960s and 70s became one of the key sources of iron ore in the region, with iron ore being exported to South Africa and Europe. The mine ceased commercial operations in 1977 and today it is a national heritage site in Eswatini.
Origins of Sibebe Beer
So, more importantly, back to the beer. The Swazi Brewing Company launched Sibebe in 1982. Sibebe is brewed in a variety of styles, but the most well-known product is its lager, which has been a favourite among the Kingdom’s consumers.
It is widely regarded as a symbol of Swazi pride, with people enjoying it in various ceremonies and social functions.
In 2018, with the renaming of the country to Eswatini, there was a greater focus on celebrating local businesses, and Sibebe beer’s role in Eswatini’s cultural identity became even more prominent.
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What is the link between geology and Eswatini’s beer?
