On a recent trip to Durban, we stopped for lunch at the 100% vegan Oh My Soul Café, who recently won their legal case against fast-food giant, Chicken Licken.
“The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different.”
Hippocrates
oh my… soul café
Oh My Soul Café is located in Durban and is a 100% vegan café that promotes living a cruelty-free life. Large vegan banners with the Oh My Soul Café logo draws your attention as you get closer to the café. Their logo consists of a blue mandala with a very cute flower headband wearing cow in the center. Below the mandala are the words Oh My Soul Café with their slogan ‘be kind to every kind.’ Upcycled plastic bottle chickens and chicken ‘footprints’ lead you inside.
The café has an unexpected barn style shabby chic interior. As you enter you can’t ignore the large ‘this is just the Veganning’ blackboard, full of vegan quotes and info about the negative health, environmental and ethical aspects of factory farming. The rest of the walls are full of quotes like “in a world where you can be anything, be kind”, “kindness changes everything”, “be cool, not cruel” and “kindness is free sprinkle that stuff everywhere” There is no mistaking that the café promotes the vegan lifestyle which as the vegan society states “…is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”
The café seems to be a very popular spot as the tables starting filling up as we explored. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the café has a small shop section where they sell a mix of toys, decor and vegan products including vegan marshmallows. The glass fridge in the café boasts a delicious looking selection of vegan desserts whilst the vegan menu has a great selection of breakfasts, lunch items, waffles, shakes, smoothies as well as Vurgers. Their menu caters to all vegans as well as those who enjoy cruelty-free vegan meats. We were in the mood for something sweet and decided to try their waffles. I had a Mango Chia smoothie and the Dark Aero Fudge and Nice Cream waffle, whilst my boyfriend had a Triple Berry smoothie together with The Nutter and Nice Waffle. As always we tasted each other’s orders and can both say that everything was delicious.
“Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul.”
Pythagoras
oh my… legal case
Chicken Licken, the fast food chain that sells chicken to the non-vegan masses, have accused Oh My Soul Café of infringing on their trademark “Soul”. Chicken Licken use the word Soul often, especially the term ‘soul food’. After doing some research I discovered the term ‘soul food’ originated in the 1960’s, when Afro’s peeked in popularity, and refers to the typical foods such as fried chicken eaten by the African Americans of the Southern US. To me, that is very similar to the entire Chicken Licken ‘Soul Food’ concept.
Oh My Soul Café, on the other hand, is completely against animal cruelty, don’t sell animal products of any kind (100% Vegan), and use the word soul as a direct connection to the fact that all animals on this earth have souls, just like humans. Be kind to all kind is their slogan, because they believe that all animals, including chickens, cows, sheep, fish, and pigs, have the same right to live their lives as we humans do. It is so clear, once you enter their café that they aim to create awareness and make a difference in a horribly cruel world.
“If they breathe they live, if they live they feel, if they feel they love, if they love they are aware. If they are aware they have a soul.”
A.D. Williams
I was very happy to hear that Oh My Soul Café won the case, but Chicken Licken has since appealed the judge’s decision. They are still insisting that Oh My Soul Café remove all use of the word soul. Chicken Licken state that because the word soul is used in the name of a vegan café it is confusing their chicken eating non-vegan customers and harming their multi-million dollar brand. Say what? The two brands are literally on opposite ends of the ethical spectrum. There can and never will be any confusion between the two.
Chicken Licken claims that this ‘confusion’ has damaged their brand. I honestly don’t think that is possible. But I do know that people all over the world are becoming more aware of the negative health and environmental effects of animal products. And more and more people are making the connection between animal cruelty and the direct connection to the food on their plate. Because of this, there has been a massive increase in vegan sales all over the world, whilst meat and dairy sales have dropped. Many people, like me who use to eat chicken and other animal products, have changed their ways and opted to live a life where we stand up for what we believe is wrong, even if it means standing alone. The world is changing, and we won’t be standing alone anymore.
I stand with Oh My Soul Café. Do you?
“When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.”
A.D. Williams
oh my… location
Oh My Soul Café is located at 68 Adelaide Tambo Dr, Durban North. They are open on Monday-Thursday from 7am to 6pm; on Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 7pm and on Sundays from 7am to 4pm.
Please show your support, follow them on Facebook and Instagram and please tell your friends/family in Durban to stop by and show their support too.
What do you think of the legal case? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more of the places where I have eaten, have a look here. If you’d like to see what other green/vegan products I have found, browse my Directory. New products posted regularly.
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