Blacks in France
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

French Black people or Black people in France (French: ''Noirs de France'') or Afro-French (Afro-Français) are French citizens or residents who are of Sub-Saharan African (including Malagasy people) or Melanesian ancestry. It also includes people of mixed African/Melanesian and French ancestry.


Population statistics

Although it is illegal for the French state to collect data on ethnicity and race in the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
(a law with its origins in the
1789 revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are consider ...
and reaffirmed in the constitution of 1958), various population estimates exist. An article in ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' in 2008 stated that estimates vary between 3 million and 5 million. It is estimated that four out of five black people in France are of African immigrant origin, with the minority being chiefly of Caribbean ancestry. Some organizations, such as the
Representative Council of France's Black Associations The Conseil représentatif des associations noires de France (CRAN, "Representative Council of France's Black Associations") is a federation of African and Afro-Caribbean associations in France, created in November 2005. often on the grounds that collecting such statistics goes against France's secular principles and harks back to
Vichy Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais. It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...
-era identity documents. During the 2007 presidential election, however,
Nicolas Sarkozy Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa (; ; born 28 January 1955) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012. Born in Paris, he is of Hungarian, Greek Jewish, and French origin. Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Se ...
was polled on the issue and stated that he favoured the collection of data on ethnicity. Part of a parliamentary bill which would have permitted the collection of data for the purpose of measuring discrimination was rejected by the
Conseil Constitutionnel The Constitutional Council (french: Conseil constitutionnel; ) is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958 to ensure that constitutional principles and rules ...
in November 2007.


Notable people


In French politics


Afro-French or Kanak members of the French Parliament or government from overseas France

There have been dozens of Afro-Caribbean, Kanak, and Afro-French MPs representing overseas electoral districts at the French National Assembly or at the French Senate, and several government members. *
Roger Bambuck Roger Bambuck (born 22 November 1945 in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe) is a French former sprinter and politician. Athletic career Bambuck took part in his first Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964. At the 1966 European Championships in Bu ...
, Minister of Youth and Sports from 1988 to 1991. *
Aimé Césaire Aimé Fernand David Césaire (; ; 26 June 1913 – 17 April 2008) was a French poet, author, and politician. He was "one of the founders of the Négritude movement in Francophone literature" and coined the word in French. He founded the P ...
,
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of
Fort-de-France Fort-de-France (, , ; gcf, label= Martinican Creole, Fodfwans) is a commune and the capital city of Martinique, an overseas department and region of France located in the Caribbean. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Histo ...
and deputy from
Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label= Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
for the PCF/ Martinican Progressive Party. *
Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes (born 17 July 1953) is a New Caledonian politician. He is a pro-independence ethnic Kanak from Caledonian Union. Since 2014, he has served as a member of the collegial government. D'Anglebermes was elected Vice Preside ...
,
Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia' ...
politician from
Caledonian Union The Caledonian Union (, UC) is a pro-independence and the oldest political party in New Caledonia. In the latest legislative elections of May 10, 2009, the party won around 11.65% of the popular vote, and 9 out of 54 seats in the Territorial Co ...
. *
Félix Éboué Adolphe Sylvestre Félix Éboué (; 26 December 1884 – 17 May 1944) was a French colonial administrator and Free French leader. He was the first black French man appointed to a high post in the French colonies, when appointed as Governor o ...
,
French Guianan French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...
-born colonial administrator and
Free French Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
leader. *
Laura Flessel-Colovic Laura Flessel-Colovic (born 6 November 1971) is a French politician and épée fencer who served as Minister of Sports from 2017 to 2018. Born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, she has won the most Olympic medals of any French sportswoman, with ...
, she became the Sport Minister in 2017. * Serge Letchimy, deputy for Martinique
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of ...
, Letchimy is also of partial
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, na ...
descent. *
Gaston Monnerville Gaston Monnerville (2 January 1897 – 7 November 1991) was a French Radical politician and lawyer who served as the first President of the Senate under the Fifth Republic from 1958 to 1968. He previously served as President of the Council of th ...
, politician and lawyer, he was the president of the Senate from 1958 to 1968. * Maurice Ponga,
New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
n politician who served as
Member of the European Parliament A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
(MEP) for the
Overseas Overseas may refer to: * ''Overseas'' (album), a 1957 album by pianist Tommy Flanagan and his trio *Overseas (band), an American indie rock band * "Overseas" (song), a 2018 song by American rappers Desiigner and Lil Pump * "Overseas" (Tee Grizzley ...
constituency from 2009 to 2019. *
Christiane Taubira Christiane Marie Taubira (; born 2 February 1952) is a French politician who served as Minister of Justice of France in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under President François Hollande from 2012 until ...
,
deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...
from
French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label= French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas ...
, was the first black candidate to a French presidential election, in 2002. In 2012, she became the Justice Minister until 2016. *
Manuéla Kéclard-Mondésir Manuéla Kéclard-Mondésir (born 6 May 1971) is a French politician who has represented Martinique's 2nd constituency on the National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bic ...
,
deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...
from
Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label= Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...


Afro-French people elected in metropolitan France

*
Severiano de Heredia Severiano de Heredia (8 November 1836 – 9 February 1901) was a Cuban-born biracial politician, a freemason, a left-wing republican, naturalized as French in 1870, who was president of the municipal council of Paris from 1 August 1879 to 12 Febru ...
, president of the municipal council of Paris (1879–1880/ sort of mayor of Paris ), deputy for Paris (1881–1889), minister (1887) *
Blaise Diagne Blaise Diagne (13 October 1872 – 11 May 1934) was a Senegalese and French political leader and mayor of Dakar. He was the first person of West African origin elected to the French Chamber of Deputies, and the first to hold a position in the Fr ...
(1872-1934), first person of Sub-Saharan African origin elected to the
French Chamber of Deputies Chamber of Deputies (french: Chambre des députés) was a parliamentary body in France in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: * 1814–1848 during the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy, the Chamber of Deputies was the lower house o ...
, and the first to hold a position in the French government. * Élie Bloncourt (1896–1978), second Black metropolitan deputy (1936–40, 1945–47), first Black metropolitan general councillor (1934–40, 1945–51) * Ernest Chénière (1945–), former deputy for
Oise Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,41 ...
(1993–97) * Raphaël Élizé ( fr) (1891–1945), first Black metropolitan
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
(1929–40)Pierre-Yves Lambert,
Maires métropolitains d'origine non-européenne
", ''Suffrage Universel''
*
Hélène Geoffroy Hélène Geoffroy (born 4 March 1970) is a French politician who was elected to the French National Assembly The National Assembly (french: link=no, italics=set, Assemblée nationale; ) is the lower house of the bicameral French Parliam ...
, deputy for
Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
, mayor * Maxette Grisoni-Pirbakas, elected an MEP in 2019. *
Gaston Monnerville Gaston Monnerville (2 January 1897 – 7 November 1991) was a French Radical politician and lawyer who served as the first President of the Senate under the Fifth Republic from 1958 to 1968. He previously served as President of the Council of th ...
(1897–1991), first Black metropolitan senator (1946–1974), president of the French Senate (1947–68), mayor, president of Lot's general council * George Pau-Langevin, Paris deputy (2007–12), junior minister (2012–2014), Minister for Overseas (2014–) * Arthur Richards (1890–1972), general councillor in
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectu ...
(1951–1964), deputy for
Gironde Gironde ( US usually, , ; oc, Gironda, ) is the largest department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the Gironde estuary, a major waterway, its prefecture is Bordeaux. In 2019, it had a population of 1,6 ...
(1958–67) *
Rama Yade Rama Yade (born Mame Ramatoulaye Yade; 13 December 1976) is a Senegalese-born French politician and the author of several books. She served as the French Secretary of Human Rights from 2007 to 2009, and the Secretary of Sports from 2009 to 2010 ...
, former minister and secretary of State *
Harlem Désir Harlem Jean-Philippe Désir (; born 25 November 1959) is a French politician who served in the government of France as Secretary of State for European Affairs from 2014 to 2017. Previously he was First Secretary of the French Socialist Party. Sin ...
, former minister for European Affairs and MEP, former
First Secretary of the French Socialist Party The First Secretary of the Socialist Party ( French: ''Premier secrétaire du Parti socialiste'') is the most senior politician within the Socialist Party in France. The office has been held by Olivier Faure Olivier Faure (French: help:IPA/Fren ...
* Kofi Yamgnane, former minister, former MP, former mayor, former general councillor in Brittany. * Hervé Berville,
Rwandan genocide The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were killed by armed Hutu ...
survivor, French economist and politician,
Côtes-d'Armor The Côtes-d'Armor (, ; ; br, Aodoù-an-Arvor, ), formerly known as Côtes-du-Nord ( br, Aodoù-an-Hanternoz, link=no, ), are a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France. In 2019, it had a population of 600,582.
MP for
La République En Marche! Renaissance (RE), previously known as La République En Marche ! (frequently abbreviated LREM, LaREM or REM; translated as "The Republic on the Move" or "Republic Forward"), or sometimes called simply En Marche ! () as its original name, is a ...
since June 2017, party spokesperson. * Seybah Dagoma, then 34-year-old lawyer of
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian descent and founding member of a left-wing think tank, was elected in a Parisian constituency in 2012 and in office until 2017. * Laetitia Avia, lawyer of
Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...
lese descent, member of the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...
for the Paris's 6th constituency since 2017. * Danièle Obono, Gabonese descent MP for
La France Insoumise La France Insoumise (FI or LFI; ; "France Unbowed") is a left-wing populist political party in France, launched in 2016 by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, then a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former co-president of the Left Party (PG). It aims ...
representing the 17th Paris constituency since the legislative elections of 2017. * Nadège Abomangoli,
deputy Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...
from
Seine-Saint-Denis () is a department of France located in the Grand Paris metropolis in the region. In French, it is often referred to colloquially as ' or ' ("ninety-three" or "nine three"), after its official administrative number, 93. Its prefecture is Bobig ...


Political activists

*
Frantz Fanon Frantz Omar Fanon (, ; ; 20 July 1925 – 6 December 1961), also known as Ibrahim Frantz Fanon, was a French West Indian psychiatrist, and political philosopher from the French colony of Martinique (today a French department). His works have b ...
,
Marxist Marxism is a left-wing to far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand class relations and social conflict and a dialecti ...
,
existentialist Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on human thinking, feeling, and acting. Existentialist thinkers frequently explore issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value ...
and anti-colonial author and activist. Renounced his French citizenship. *
Kémi Séba Kémi Séba (French-language version of Egyptian for "black star"),
,
Pan-Africanist Pan-Africanism is a worldwide movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all Indigenous and diaspora peoples of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the movement exte ...
political leader, writer, activist and
geopolitical Geopolitics (from Greek γῆ ''gê'' "earth, land" and πολιτική ''politikḗ'' "politics") is the study of the effects of Earth's geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations. While geopolitics usually refers to ...
analyst for various African television channels *
Louis-Georges Tin Louis-Georges Tin (born 1974) is a French academic, gay rights campaigner, and anti-racist activist. Tin is noted for initiating the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, ...
, president of the Representative Council of France's Black Associations and founder of the International Day Against Homophobia *
Rokhaya Diallo Rokhaya Diallo (born 10 April 1978), is a French journalist, author, film-maker, and activist for racial, gender and religious equality. According to ''The New York Times'', she is “one of France's most prominent anti-racism activists.” She ...
, French journalist,
BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
-France host, author, filmmaker, and activist for racial, gender and religious equality. * Sibeth Ndiaye, French-Senegalese communications advisor. Government Spokeswoman for Edouard Philippe's government from April 2019 to July 2020. * Susanna Ounei,
Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia' ...
independence activist.


In sports


In basketball


In football


In rugby


Other sports

* Christine Arron, track and field sprint athlete *
Surya Bonaly Surya Varuna Claudine Bonaly (born 15 December 1973) is a French-born retired competitive figure skater. She is a three-time World silver medalist (1993–1995), a five-time European champion (1991–1995), the 1991 World Junior Champion, and a ...
, Olympic figure skater *
Stéphen Boyer Pierre Jean Stéphen Boyer (born 10 April 1996) is a French professional volleyball player. He is a member of the France national team. The 2020 Olympic Champion and the 2017 World League winner. At the professional club level, he plays for J ...
, volleyball player *
Laura Flessel-Colovic Laura Flessel-Colovic (born 6 November 1971) is a French politician and épée fencer who served as Minister of Sports from 2017 to 2018. Born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, she has won the most Olympic medals of any French sportswoman, with ...
, fencer *
Vanessa James Vanessa James (born 27 September 1987) is a Canadian retired pair skater. Representing France with her former skating partner, Morgan Ciprès, she is the 2019 European Champion, the 2018 World bronze medallist, the 2017 European bronze meda ...
, Olympic figure skater *
Gaël Monfils Gaël Sébastien Monfils (; born 1 September 1986) is a French professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in November 2016. His career hig ...
, tennis player *
Daniel Narcisse Daniel Narcisse (born 16 December 1979) is a retired French handball player and French international from 2000 to 2017. He is a double Olympic champion, quadruple World champion and triple European champion, one of the most awarded French tea ...
, team handball player, IHF World Player of the Year 2012 *
Francis Ngannou Francis Zavier Ngannou (born 5 September 1986) is a Cameroonian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion. A ...
, mixed martial artist *
Earvin N'Gapeth Earvin N'Gapeth (born 12 February 1991) is a French volleyball player, member of the France national volleyball team and Iranian club Paykan Tehran VC, 2015 European Champion, gold medallist of the World League (2015 and 2017), French Champion ...
, volleyball player * Barthélémy Chinenyeze, volleyball player * Éric N'Gapeth, father of Earvin, volleyball player *
Yannick Noah Yannick Noah (; born 18 May 1960) is a French former professional tennis player and singer. Noah won the French Open in 1983, and is currently the captain of both France's Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams. During his nearly two-decade ...
, last French
French Open The French Open (french: Internationaux de France de tennis), also known as Roland-Garros (), is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, beginning in late May each year. The tournament and ve ...
tennis winner to this day (1983), current French
Davis Cup The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. It is described by the organi ...
coach *
Marie-José Pérec Marie-José Pérec (born 9 May 1968) is a retired French track and field sprinter who specialised in the 200 and 400 metres and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Athletics career Pérec won the 1991 World Championships 400 metres title ...
, multiple Olympic gold medal sprinter *
Jackson Richardson Jackson Richardson (born 14 June 1969) is a retired French handball player. As the captain of the French handball team, he was the flag carrier during the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Athens on 13 August 2004. Biography Richardson started ...
, team handball player, IHF World Player of the Year 1995 *
Teddy Riner Teddy Pierre-Marie Riner (, ; born 7 April 1989) is a French judoka. He has won ten World Championships gold medals, the first and only judoka (male or female) to do so, and three Olympic gold medals (two individual, one team). He has also won ...
, judoka *
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (; born 17 April 1985) is a French former professional tennis player. He was ranked as high as world No. 5 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in February 2012. Tsonga won 18 singles titles on th ...
, tennis player


In entertainment and media

*
Josephine Baker Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; naturalised French Joséphine Baker; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted Fran ...
, dancer and singer *
Guillaume Guillon-Lethière Guillaume Guillon-Lethière (; 10 January 1760 – 22 April 1832) was a French neoclassical painter. Life Born free in Guadeloupe in 1760 to a French colonial official named Pierre Guillon and a " mulatto" mother, Lethière has been often ...
, painter *
Fatou Diome Fatou Diome (born 1968 in Niodior) is a France, French-Senegal, Senegalese writer known for her best-selling novel ''The Belly of the Atlantic'', which was published in 2001. Her work explores immigrant life in France, and the relationship betwee ...
, best-selling and award-winning author of
Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
ese origin. * Élé Asu, journalist and TV presenter of Nigerian descent *
Édouard Montoute Édouard Montoute (born 20 December 1970) is a French actor. Filmography Film * 1990: ''Jean Galmot, aventurier'' by Alain Maline * 1991: ''Paris s'éveille'' by Olivier Assayas: un dealer * 1995: ''La Haine'' by Mathieu Kassovitz: Darty ...
, French actor and thespian * Dominique Thimbakala, TV newscaster for BFM TV * Kareen Guiock, TV newscaster for M6 * Mouss Diouf, actor *
Ladj Ly Ladj Ly (; born 19 March 1980 in Paris) is a French film director and screenwriter. He won a Jury Prize in Cannes Film Festival for ''Les Misérables'' in 2019. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Biography Ly's ...
, film director and screenwriter *
Aya Nakamura Aya Coco Danioko (; born 10 May 1995), known by her stage name Aya Nakamura ( ), is a French-Malian pop singer. She is best known for her hit song "Djadja". She was born in Bamako, Mali and emigrated to France with her family, growing up in A ...
, singer *
Miss Dominique Miss Dominique s she is generally known as born Dominique Michalon 7 September 1978 in Sarcelles, France, is a French singer and second-place finalist of the fourth edition of Nouvelle Star ased version of "Pop Idol" Her parents are both Carib ...
, singer * Fabe, rapper * Hélène and Célia Faussart (
Les Nubians Les Nubians is a French musical duo, composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985, the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, ...
), singing duo * Aissa Maiga, actress *
Sonia Rolland Sonia Rolland (born 11 February 1981) is a French actress who was Miss France 2000. She was the first African-born winner of the Miss France pageant. Born in Kigali, Rwanda, to a Rwandan mother and a French father, Rolland and her family fled ...
, actress *
Imany Nadia Mladjao (born 5 April 1979), better known by her stage name Imany (), is a French pop-soul recording artist of Comorian descent. Her debut album, ''The Shape of a Broken Heart'', which was released in 2011, reached platinum status in Franc ...
, singer * Hubert Kounde, actor and thespian *
Lord Kossity Thierry Moutoussamy (, ; born 23 December 1972), better known as Lord Kossity (), is a French musician. His family is originally from Martinique but he was born in Paris, France and moved back to the French Antilles with his family when he was 11 ...
,
Dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The R ...
musician *
Dieudonné M'bala M'bala Dieudonné M'bala M'bala (; born 11 February 1966), generally known by his stage name Dieudo, is a French comedian, actor and political activist. He has been convicted for hate speech, advocating terrorism, and slander in Belgium, France and Sw ...
, comedian and anti-Zionist activist *
Fab Morvan Fabrice Maxime Sylvain Morvan (born 14 May 1966) is a French singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and model. He was half of the pop duo Milli Vanilli, along with Rob Pilatus, selling multi-platinum albums around the world. However, he was later i ...
, model and singer, half of
Milli Vanilli Milli Vanilli were a German-French R&B duo from Munich. The group was founded by Frank Farian in 1988 and consisted of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. Their debut album, ''All or Nothing'' in Europe, reconfigured as ''Girl You Know It's True'' in ...
*
Audrey Pulvar Audrey Pulvar (; born 21 February 1972) is a French journalist, television and radio host and politician. Newsreader of the ''19/20'' on France 3 from 2005 to 2009, Pulvar has been commentator within Laurent Ruquier's show ''On n'est pas couch ...
, newscaster and journalist *
Firmine Richard Firmine Richard (born 25 September 1947 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France) is a French actress. Her film credits include ''8 Women'' and ''Hunting and Gathering''. Personal life In February 2009, Richard took part in demonstrations in Paris ...
, actress *
Harry Roselmack Harry Roselmack (born 20 March 1973 in Tours) is a French radio and TV journalist of Martiniquan descent. Career Harry Roselmack graduated with degrees in History ( DEUG) and Journalism (DUT). He began to work for a local radio station, durin ...
, newscaster *
Omar Sy Omar Sy (, ff, 𞤌𞤥𞤢𞤪 𞤅𞤭, Omar Si; born 20 January 1978) is a French actor, best known in France for his sketches with Fred Testot on the '' Service après-vente des émissions'' television show on Canal+ (2005–2012). He gain ...
, César-winning actor *
Olivier Coipel Olivier Coipel (; November 7, 1969) is a French comic book artist, known for his work on books such as ''House of M'', ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' and ''Thor''. Career Olivier Coipel started as a movie animator, working as an assistant on '' Balt ...
, comic book artist * Bukola Elemide, Female musician *
Black M Alpha Diallo (born 27 December 1984), better known by his stage name Black M (originally Black Mesrimes), is a French rapper, singer, songwriter and member of the Sexion d'Assaut group. In 2014, he released his first solo album, entitled '' Les ...
, rapper * MHD, rapper *
MC Solaar Claude M'Barali, professionally known as MC Solaar (; born 5 March 1969), is a French rapper of Senegalese and Chadian origin. He is one of France's most famous and influential hip hop artists. Some consider him the best French rapper of all ...
, cult French rapper * Niska, rapper *
Dadju Dadju Djuna Nsungula (; born 2 May 1991), better known by the mononym Dadju or at times Prince Dadj, is a French singer. He was signed to the label Wati B and in 2017 signed with Polydor Records of Universal Music Group. He was a member of the m ...
, singer *
Shy'm Tamara Marthe (born 28 November 1985), better known as Shy'm , is a French singer. She released her first album, '' Mes fantaisies'', in 2006 and has since released six more albums. She had three Platinum albums, including her number-one 2012 al ...
, pop singer *
Les Twins Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois (born December 6, 1988), professionally known as Les Twins, are French dancers, choreographers, producers, models, designers, and creative directors of their brand "Eleven Paris". Often referred to by their r ...
, new-style hip-hop dancers * Ziak ( fr), rapper *
Jacky Brown Jacky Teixeira (born 17 August 1975), known as Jacky Brown, is a French rapper, singer and presenter of the band Nèg' Marrons, of Cape Verdean origin. He is a member of the group La MC-Mal Criado
and Ben-J (Nèg' Marrons ( fr)), reggae & hip-hop duo


In literature

*
Calixthe Beyala Calixthe Beyala (born 1961) is a Cameroonian-French writer who writes in French. Biography A Cameroonian author and member of the Eton people, Calixthe Beyala was born in Sa'a to Cameroonian parents. Her aunt and grandmother were particula ...
, writer *
Aimé Césaire Aimé Fernand David Césaire (; ; 26 June 1913 – 17 April 2008) was a French poet, author, and politician. He was "one of the founders of the Négritude movement in Francophone literature" and coined the word in French. He founded the P ...
, writer * Suzanne Césaire, writer *
Maryse Condé Maryse Condé (née Boucolon; February 11, 1937) is a French novelist, critic, and playwright from the French Overseas department and region of Guadeloupe. Condé is best known for her novel ''Ségou'' (1984–85).Condé, Maryse, and Richard P ...
, writer *
Léon Damas Léon-Gontran Damas (March 28, 1912 – January 22, 1978) was a French poet and politician. He was one of the founders of the Négritude movement. He also used the pseudonym Lionel Georges André Cabassou. Biography Léon Damas was born in Cay ...
, writer * Edouard Glissant, writer *
Marie NDiaye Marie NDiaye (born 4 June 1967) is a French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. She published her first novel, ''Quant au riche avenir'', when she was 17. She won the Prix Goncourt in 2009. Her play ''Papa doit manger'' is the sole play by a ...
, writer *
Daniel Picouly Daniel Picouly (born 21 October 1948 in Villemomble) is a French writer. Picouly was reared in a family of 13 children. His parents were born in the French overseas territory of Martinique. He became a professor of economics in Paris. In 1992 h ...
, author


European / African (or Afro-Caribbean) descent

*
Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...
, writer *
Alexandre Dumas fils Alexandre Dumas (; 27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel '' La Dame aux Camélias'' (''The Lady of the Camellias''), published in 1848, which was adapted into Giuseppe Verdi's ...
, writer * Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, general in the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
and father of
Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...
*
Thierry Dusautoir Thierry Dusautoir (; born 18 November 1981) is a French former rugby union player who last played for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. Dusautoir was considered a strong ball carrier and possessed i ...
, rugby player *
Chevalier de Saint-Georges Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (25 December 1745 – 10 June 1799), was a French Creole virtuoso violinist and composer, who was conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. Saint-Georges was born in the then-French colo ...
, composer, conductor, and violinist, master fencer and military man *
Rudy Gobert Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel ( ; born June 26, 1992) is a French professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the French national team in their international competitions ...
, basketball player *
Noémie Lenoir Noémie Lenoir (born 19 September 1979) is a French model and actress. She is known for her work with Gucci, L'Oréal, Next (clothing), Next, Gap (clothing retailer), Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Balmain (fashion house)#Recent history, ...
, model * Chevalier de Meude-Monpas, French musician and composer *
Chloé Mortaud Chloè Mortaud (born 19 September 1989, Lisieux, Calvados (department), Calvados) is a French actress and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss France 2009. She represented the Albigeois Midi Pyrénées, a southwest region of France, and became ...
,
Miss France Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as " Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, i ...
2009 *
Anais Mali Anais Mokngar Mali (born 22 January 1991) is a French model. She has modeled and walked the runway for top fashion brands such Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang and Derek Lam. Early life Mali was born in Toulon, France, to a mother from Chad and a Polish f ...
, model *
Sonia Rolland Sonia Rolland (born 11 February 1981) is a French actress who was Miss France 2000. She was the first African-born winner of the Miss France pageant. Born in Kigali, Rwanda, to a Rwandan mother and a French father, Rolland and her family fled ...
, actress,
Miss France Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as " Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, i ...
2000 *
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (; born 17 April 1985) is a French former professional tennis player. He was ranked as high as world No. 5 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in February 2012. Tsonga won 18 singles titles on th ...
, tennis player *
Gaël Monfils Gaël Sébastien Monfils (; born 1 September 1986) is a French professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in November 2016. His career hig ...
, tennis player *
Flora Coquerel Flora Coquerel (born 14 April 1994) is a French model and beauty pageant titleholder. She is the 85th Miss France titleholder. She represented France at Miss Universe 2015 where she placed in the Top 5, which represents the third highest French ...
, Miss France 2014 *
Alicia Aylies Alicia Aylies (born 21 April 1998) is a French singer, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss France 2017. Aylies had previously won Miss French Guiana, Miss French Guiana 2016, becoming the first representative from French Gu ...
, Miss France 2017 *
Willy William Willy Fauade William (born 14 April 1981) is a French DJ, record producer and singer, famous for his club remixes and vocal collaborations with a number of dance music artists. He is most famous for his French hit " Ego" and his Latin hit " Mi Gen ...
, singer and producer *
Cindy Bruna Cindy Bruna (born 27 September 1994) is a French fashion model. Early life Bruna was born in Saint-Raphaël, Var, France on 27 September 1994 to an Italian father, Stefano Bruna, and a Congolese mother, Eléonore, from Brazzaville, Congo. She h ...
, model *
Ciryl Gane Ciryl Jacky Gane (born 12 April 1990) is a French professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. A professi ...
, mixed martial artist


See also

*
Zaire Zaire (, ), officially the Republic of Zaire (french: République du Zaïre, link=no, ), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, ...
*
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
*
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
*
African Americans in France African Americans (also referred to as Afro-Americans or Black Americans) in France are people of African American heritage or black people from the United States who are or have become residents or citizens of France. This includes students an ...
* Haitians in France


References

{{Authority control African diaspora in France African diaspora in Europe Caribbean French
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
Ethnic groups in France Kanak people