Buntu Odolo (30), a small business owner and budding entrepreneur, is thrilled to have received an invitation to showcase his premium gin at the Joburg Open Pro-Am last month, which teed-off on the pristine fairways and parklands of the Houghton Golf Club. The elite men’s international golf showpiece attracted notable professional players and supporters from across the world. “You don’t understand the magnitude of this event for me. It’s massive. It’s the most high-profile event we’ve been invited to,” says Odolo elatedly.
Odolo founded Kwantu Gin in 2018 and launched it in 2020 after meeting a distiller through his fiancé. His locally crafted gin is distilled in Centurion, Tshwane.
Kwantu Gin has a strong African influence, from the concept to the flavours and packaging. It is a crystal-clear liquid with a fresh and vibrant character on the nose and earthy tones on the palate.
Kwantu is a smooth gin with citrus undertones to create a harmonious experience.
The design of the bottle has generic African colours and shapes.
“It’s a premium placement, and we invest a lot in its quality.
You’ll wake up feeling good,” explains Odolo.
Kwantu prides itself on its African heritage.
The name derives from Ntu, the father of all African ancestors.
“If you want to place him on a map, he is at the northern tip of Egypt.
The Nguni people of South Africa today originate from there.
That is how I combined my journey with the actual spirit itself, Kwantu Gin.
We at Kwantu believe once we have a conversation about who we are and where we come from, we will be able to find a common purpose and Ubuntu.”
Odolo is committed to growing the Kwantu brand and creating generational wealth.
He managed to bring two co-founders on board, and about seven job opportunities have been created for an assistant and sales representatives.
Odolo, an attorney by profession, is passionate about entrepreneurship and enjoys gin.
“My journey in entrepreneurship is to turn something from scratch into a product. I enjoy the process of creating it all. When I see people enjoying it, that’s just the cherry on top, but the cake was already baked because I enjoyed the entire process. And that taught me a lot about myself as well, the frustrations, the happiness, the ups and downs, the flavours not coming together.”
Odolo hails from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape and fell in love with entrepreneurship in primary school during market day when he tasted a pancake for the first time. He remains an inquisitive entrepreneur, and he has learned patience and resilience on his journey.
Odolo thanks the City of Johannesburg for the opportunity he had to gain exposure at the 2022 edition of the Joburg Open.
“It makes me believe again because, as everyone knows, a small business is very difficult to build, and you pay a lot of school fees. Events of this magnitude make it worthwhile. I really appreciate the City inviting me here.”
Kwantu Gin is on Instagram as @KwantuGin, on Twitter as @GinKwantu, and for sale on Takealot.
Check out Odolo’s multimedia profile on the City’s Instagram page: @cityofjoburg.
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi