Seven Colours Eatery: How Nolukhanyo Dube‑Cele Brought SA Soul Food to the Waterfront
Seven Colours Eatery: How Nolukhanyo Dube‑Cele Brought SA Soul Food to the Waterfront. Chef Nolukhanyo “Nolu” Dube‑Cele turned a lifetime of home-cooked memories into Seven Colours Eatery, a dining destination at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront that serves up Xhosa soul food with love and authenticity. Her brand’s name celebrates the traditional “seven colours” Sunday plate, a rainbow of wholesome flavours, putting neglected South African cuisine back into the spotlight.
From Childhood Kitchen to Market Stall
Growing up in Tsengiwe, Eastern Cape, Nolu fondly recalls Sunday mornings in her grandmother’s kitchen: rich aromas, dishes from beetroots to braais, and the anticipation of gathering around a seven‑colour spread. Her transition from hospitality roles to pop‑up vendor at markets. By 2020, her delicious legacy earned her a coveted spot at the V&A Food Market, a clear turning point towards establishing Seven Colours Eatery.
Turning Points & Strategic Moves
- Pop‑ups that Prove a Concept: Testing at market days exposed high demand. These low‑risk platforms validated her idea, encouraging expansion.
- Pivoting During COVID: Faced with lockdowns, Nolu shifted to private catering and delivery. These pivots sustained income and highlighted demand from local customers.
- Prime Waterfront Presence: Claiming real estate in Battery Park not only increased visibility to tourists and locals but also positioned the brand within Cape Town’s urban food culture.
Innovative Brand Positioning
- Championing Xhosa Home Cooking: Every plate tells a story, beetroot, pickled salads, mogodu, umngqusho, all celebrating heritage and cultural pride.
- Multi‑Sensory Experience: The colourful décor, live music, and a logo bearing Nolu’s face reinforce a warm, welcoming vibe, akin to Sunday lunchtime with family.
- Local Beverage Collaboration: Serving Tolokazi beer and female‑owned local wines enhances community ties and elevates the authentic experience.
Growth Highlights & Market Recognition
- Media & Awards: Featured in Woolworths TASTE’s “Heritage Series” and celebrated in Heart FM’s Neighbourfood for Women’s Month, highlighting her leadership in South African cuisine.
- Partnerships & Visibility: Collaborated with AWOL Tours, offering special tourist packages, an innovative strategy to tap into Cape Town’s travel circuits.
Resilience Through Challenges
- Securing Market Presence: Without big budgets, Nolu’s resourcefulness placed her at premium locations, proving against odds that creativity can carve paths.
- Navigating Pandemic Hits: By swiftly shifting focus to catering and delivery, she protected her brand’s continuity and found new revenue channels.
- Balancing Heritage with Innovation: Fine-tuning traditional recipes (e.g., turmeric-umngqusho, creative canapé formats) enabled wide consumer appeal while preserving authenticity.
Actionable Lessons for Emerging Entrepreneurs
- Test the Market First: Use pop‑ups or market stalls to validate ideas and build an audience before committing to long-term leases.
- Pivot with Purpose: Quick adaptation, like shifting to catering during COVID, can be a lifeline that sustains your brand in tough times.
- Anchor in Authenticity: Build around your story and culture. It creates emotional resonance that modern branding often lacks.
- Turn Spaces into Experiences: Combine food with music, décor, and atmosphere to make each visit memorable and shareable.
- Forge Strategic Collaborations: Partnerships with tour operators or local brewers can multiply visibility and offer mutual benefits.
- Stay Visible Through Media: Feature in dedicated heritage or food publications to reinforce credibility and reach ideal audiences.
The Future on the Horizon
Nolu envisions Seven Colours Eatery owning a standalone space and deepening its cultural imprint, one seven‑colour plate at a time. With her brand rooted in community and heritage, growth will likely follow her instinct-led pace and purpose.
