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 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'' 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-era identity documents. During the 2007 presidential election, however, Nicolas Sarkozy 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 of Fort-de-France and deputy from Martinique for the PCF/ Martinican Progressive Party. * Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes, Kanak 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 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 Caledonian politician who served as Member of the European Parliament (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, 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 ...

from Martinique Laetitia avia AN 16441

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 Élie Bloncourt (5 May 1896 – 4 March 1978) was a French politician who represented the department of Aisne in the French National Assembly from 1936 to 1946. He was blinded by a shrapnel blast in the First World War and was part of the French ...

(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 829,4 ...

(1993–97) * Raphaël Élizé ( fr) (1891–1945), first Black metropolitan mayor (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, mayor * Maxette Grisoni-Pirbakas, elected an MEP in 2019. *

(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 prefecture ...

(1951–1964), deputy for Gironde (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 French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French pe ...

* 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! since June 2017, party spokesperson. * Seybah Dagoma, then 34-year-old lawyer of Chadian 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 Togolese descent, member of the National Assembly for the Paris's 6th constituency since 2017. * Danièle Obono, Gabonese descent MP for La France Insoumise representing the 17th Paris constituency since the legislative elections of 2017. * Nadège Abomangoli,

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 Bobign ...

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 be ...

, Marxist,

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 valu ...

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 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 International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Lesbophobia and Transphobia is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. B ...

* Rokhaya Diallo, French journalist, BET-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 independence activist.

In sports

In basketball

In football

In rugby

Other sports

Christine Arron Christine Arron (born 13 September 1973) is a former track and field sprinter, who competed internationally for France in the 60 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4 × 100 metres relay. She is one of the ten fastest female 100 metres spri ...

, 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, volleyball player *

, 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 medal ...

, Olympic figure skater * Gaël Monfils, 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. ...

, 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 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 i ...

, multiple Olympic gold medal sprinter * Jackson Richardson, team handball player, IHF World Player of the Year 1995 * Teddy Riner, judoka * Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, tennis player

In entertainment and media

Joséphine Baker lors d'une distribution de vivres

* Josephine Baker, dancer and singer * Guillaume Guillon-Lethière, painter * Fatou Diome, best-selling and award-winning author of Senegalese origin. * Élé Asu, journalist and TV presenter of Nigeria, Nigerian descent * Édouard Montoute, French actor and thespian * Dominique Thimbakala, TV newscaster for BFM TV * Kareen Guiock, TV newscaster for M6 (TV channel), M6 * Mouss Diouf, actor * Ladj Ly, film director and screenwriter * Aya Nakamura, singer * Miss Dominique, singer * Fabe (French rapper), Fabe, rapper * Hélène and Célia Faussart (Les Nubians), singing duo * Aissa Maiga, actress * Sonia Rolland, actress * Imany, singer * Hubert Kounde, actor and thespian * Lord Kossity, Dancehall musician * Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, comedian and anti-Zionist activist * Fab Morvan, model and singer, half of Milli Vanilli * Audrey Pulvar, newscaster and journalist * Firmine Richard, actress * Harry Roselmack, newscaster * Omar Sy, César Awards, César-winning actor * Olivier Coipel, comic book artist * Bukola Elemide, Female musician * Black M, rapper * MHD (rapper), MHD, rapper * MC Solaar, cult French rapper * Niska_(rapper), Niska, rapper * Dadju, singer * Louise Marie Thérèse (The Black Nun of Moret)

Louise Marie Thérèse (The Black Nun of Moret)

Shy'm, pop singer * Les Twins, new-style hip-hop dancers * Ziak (:fr:Ziak, fr), rapper * Jacky Brown and Ben-J (Nèg' Marrons (:fr:Nèg' Marrons, fr)), reggae & hip-hop duo

In literature

* Calixthe Beyala, writer *

, writer * Suzanne Césaire, writer * Maryse Condé, writer * Léon Damas, writer * Edouard Glissant, writer * Marie NDiaye, writer * Daniel Picouly, author

European / African (or Afro-Caribbean) descent

* Alexandre Dumas, writer * Alexandre Dumas fils, writer * Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, general in the French Revolution and father of Alexandre Dumas * Thierry Dusautoir, rugby player * Chevalier de Saint-Georges, composer, conductor, and violinist, master fencer and military man * Rudy Gobert, basketball player * Noémie Lenoir, model * Chevalier de Meude-Monpas, French musician and composer * Chloé Mortaud, Miss France 2009 * Anais Mali, model * Sonia Rolland, actress, Miss France 2000 * Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, tennis player * Gaël Monfils, tennis player * Flora Coquerel, Miss France 2014 * Alicia Aylies, Miss France 2017 * Willy William, singer and producer * Cindy Bruna, model * Ciryl Gane, mixed martial artist

References

{{Authority control African diaspora in France African diaspora in Europe Caribbean French People of African descent, France Ethnic groups in France Kanak people