Heart of the City: Mango Ginger Cafe and Run South Africa Gallery Celebrates African Art and Stories

In the lively heart of Observatory, Cape Town, Mango Ginger Cafe has become more than just a stop for coffee and wholesome bites, it is now a cultural landmark where food, art, and African storytelling meet. Through its collaboration with The Run South Africa Gallery Cafe, the space hosts the stunning exhibition Home is Where the Heart Is, a celebration of Africa's beauty, resilience, and imagination.

Running until January 2026, the exhibition transforms Mango Ginger's cozy cafe walls into a living gallery that tells stories of belonging, identity, and hope. Each piece, inspired by African life from rural villages to buzzing cities that carries the heartbeat of the continent, from portraits of the Big Five to tributes to icons like the late Nelson Mandela.

Behind this vibrant space is Malesela, part of the Mango Ginger Observatory team. Having taken over the cafe's management after a change of ownership in May, he has filled the venue with warmth and creative energy. “I want folks to feel instantly at home,“ he says. “The aroma of cinnamon buns mingling with bold coffee, surrounded by art that stirs emotion, no rush, just pure, feeling good energy.”

Mango Ginger was founded in 2006, began as a small coffee shop with a dream to offer nutritious, delicious meals in the neighbourhood bursting with creativity. Nearly two decades later, it evolved into a beloved local institution for the University of Cape Town (UCT) students and a hub for Cape Town's creative community. 

The partnership with Run South Africa Gallery Cafe has turned the venue into a rotating art space that celebrates African heritage. Curated by Mpilonhle Gumede Manyisa known for his expressive abstract work, the exhibition also features artists Boipilo Mashungane, Focus Arts, and Emkay Art. “Hosting talents like these feels like giving wings to the next generation of African storytellers,” Malesela says. 

Visitors have responded with enthusiasm, taking photos, sharing stories, and lingering longer over their coffee. “It’s drawn a fresh wave of art lovers to our door,” he adds. 

Looking ahead, Mango Ginger plans to keep the momentum going with new exhibitions into 2026, including one themed “Roots and Routes”, which will explore migration and movement through African art.

As Malesela puts it, “Mango Ginger is all about energy, feeding bodies with clean, joyful food and souls with art that builds community.”

At Mango Ginger Café, home isn’t just a word it’s a feeling and through the Run South Africa Gallery’s exhibitions, that feeling is proudly, beautifully African.

All visitors can view Home Where the Heart Is from Monday to Saturday at Mango Ginger Cafe in Observatory, a space where art meets the heart, and Africa's stories proudly find their home.