One&Only Cape Town, located in the heart of South Africa’s most vibrant city, has brought a splash of colour and African-inspired design to poolside dining destination, Isola. The ultra-luxury urban resort has partnered with renowned local artist and designer Eli ‘Nyambo’ Gold, also known by his brand name, Masa Mara, to create a design and space as unique as the designer himself. Known for his work in unisex fashion, Rwandan-born Masa Mara is heralded for his colourful clothing and his innovative artistic vision.
Isola has been transformed by Masa Mara’s iconic bold prints which adorn the cabanas, pool area and restaurant. A kaleidoscope of lively colour and symbols make up the greater pattern, with different segments being used for different items, allowing for every pillow, curtain and runner to be unique and one-of-a-kind. Tasteful expressions of the African-inspired design can be seen throughout the outdoor space, allowing for the design to be thoroughly imbued in every corner, creating a refined and contemporary vision from every angle.
Nyambo used his own personal journey to reflect in his craft, choosing bold colours and dynamic symbolism throughout the design created for the ultra-luxury resort. Each colour and element have meaning, every detail a well-thought-out extension of himself.
Born and raised in Rwanda, Nyambo and his family were forced to flee the country due to the 1994 genocide, beginning his nomadic journey through ten African countries before settling in South Africa in 2004. Nyambo completed his education in design, embracing his new home and turning his life’s journey into a source of strength and inspiration for his work. “That life made me a nomad. But as I start to understand what I endured; I realise that it was my personal legend,” says Nyambo. “It was my destiny to go through it and be able to share it with others through my work.” He speaks proudly of his family including his brother, Djafari Dusabimana, Chef de Cuisine at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Rwanda, and how they have all grown and created their own success.
The bespoke design created for One&Only Cape Town consists of four colours – blue, gold, white and black. The blue was chosen to represent the sea surrounding Africa, invoking feelings of peacefulness and calm commonly associated with the ocean. The gold speaks to wealth and riches, representative of South Africa’s abundance of the precious metal as well as her people. Black, usually seen as being devoid of colour, has been chosen to represent the opposite – the necessity of every colour combination to create black, symbolically speaking to South Africa’s own people, who are an incredible combination of ethnicities, languages and cultures found nowhere else in this world. Finally, white was chosen to represent peace, representative of a vision of Africa that Nyambo and many like him hold dear to their hearts.
Beyond the colours, other elements in the design also play an important role. Proteas can be spotted in-between depictions of small glass beads, representing the national flower and the art and craft of the land respectively. Triangles were added to represent masculine energy, frequently seen in nature in the shape of mountains and valleys in Africa whereas the diamonds scattered throughout are more feminine and play homage to “African women and how they become diamonds because of their circumstances”. Finally, patterned wavy lines flow throughout, representing water and depicting the energy that flows between man, woman and nature.
Isola offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, inviting guests to unwind beneath the African sun, in one of the most serene oases nestled in Cape Town’s dynamic landscape. At the helm of the Isola Kitchen is Sous Chef Azania ‘Aza’ Mana, her and her team have embraced Mediterranean flavours and dishes, adding their own twists, thereby bringing in a touch of local flair. Isola’s menu perfectly balances alongside the idyllic island harmony of the surroundings, with guests enjoying family-friendly tapa-styled dishes, ranging from crispy calamari to delectable meze platters, each designed to be enjoyed in the company of loved ones and curated for shared moments.
Normally reserved for Signature Suite guests only, the vibrant cabana retreats can now be booked for the day, including a bottle of One&Only Brut, tapas platter and a three-course meal for two at Isola.
The pool and Isola remain open to all resort guests daily from 6am-6pm. For Isola and Cabana reservations, please contact guestexperience@oneandonlycapetown.com or call 021 431 5888. For reservations or more information, please visit oneandonlyresorts.com/cape-town.
