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 Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its terr ...

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 incl ...

(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 considere ...

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 Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais. It is a Spa town, spa and resort town and in World ...

-era identity documents. During the

2007 presidential election This electoral calendar 2007 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2007 in the de jure and de facto sovereign states and their dependent territories. Referendums are included, although they are not elections. By-elections are not i ...

, 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 Par ...

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 a ...

Fort-de-France Fort-de-France (, , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Fodfwans) is a Communes of France, 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 ...

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 th ...

for the PCF/

Martinican Progressive Party The Martinican Progressive Party (french: Parti progressiste martiniquais, PPM) is a democratic socialist political party in Martinique. It was founded on March 22, 1958 by poet Aimé Césaire after breaking off from the French Communist Party. Th ...

. * Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes,

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 Guiana, French French colonial empires, colonial administrator and Free French Forces, Free French leader. He was the first black French man appointed to a hig ...

, French Guianan-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 f ...

, she became the Sport Minister in 2017. *

Serge Letchimy Serge Letchimy (; born 13 January 1953) is the President of the Executive Council of Martinique and former member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the island of Martinique's 3rd constituency since June 2007, and is a member of ...

, 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 th ...

, 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, nati ...

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 ...

, politician and lawyer, he was the president of the Senate from 1958 to 1968. *

Maurice Ponga Maurice Ponga (born 5 June 1947 in Kouaoua, New Caledonia) is a French politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 until 2019. He was elected in the 2009 European election for the Overseas constituency. Politica ...

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 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 201 ...

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, Spai ...

from

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...

, was the first black candidate to a French presidential election, in 2002. In 2012, she became the Justice Minister until 2016. * Manuéla Kéclard-Mondésir,

from

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 Fren ...

(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 829,419 ...

(1993–97) * Raphaël Élizé ( fr) (1891–1945), first Black metropolitan

(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 on 17 June 2012 representing the department of Rhône. References

1970 births Living people Black French politicians People fro ...

, 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. *

(1897–1991), first Black metropolitan senator (1946–1974), president of the French Senate (1947–68), mayor, president of

Lot Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...

general council General council may refer to: In education: * General Council (Scottish university), an advisory body to each of the ancient universities of Scotland * General Council of the University of St Andrews, the corporate body of all graduates and senio ...

George Pau-Langevin George Pau-Langevin (; born 19 October 1948 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe) is a French lawyer and politician. A member of the Socialist Party (France), Socialist Party (PS). Close to Bertrand Delanoë, she was deputy for the Paris's 21st con ...

, 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 prefectur ...

(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 1,62 ...

(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 Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of ...

Kofi Yamgnane Kofi Martin Yamgnane (born 11 October 1945) is a French-Togolese politician and engineer. Biography Yamgnane was born in 1945 in Bassar, Togo. A member of the Bassar ethnic group in central Togo, he attended a missionary school as his early educ ...

, former minister, former MP, former mayor, former general councillor in Brittany. *

Hervé Berville Hervé Berville (born 15 January 1990) is a French economist and politician of La République En Marche! (LREM) who has been serving as State Secretary for the Sea in the government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne since 2022. From 2017 to ...

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 l ...

since June 2017, party spokesperson. *

Seybah Dagoma Seybah Dagoma (born 9 June 1978 in Nantes, France) is a French lawyer and politician of the Socialist Party who served as a member of the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012, representing the department of Paris. Early life and education Bo ...

, 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 Laetitia Avia (born 29 October 1985) is a French lawyer and politician of La République En Marche! (LREM) who served as the member of the National Assembly for the 8th constituency of Paris from 2017 to 2022, representing a constituency coveri ...

, 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 repre ...

for the Paris's 6th constituency since 2017. *

Danièle Obono Danièle Obono (; born 12 July 1980) is a Gabonese-French politician serving as the member of the National Assembly for Paris's 17th constituency since 2017. She has also been the spokesperson for La France Insoumise. Obono was re-elected in ...

, 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 aim ...

representing the 17th Paris constituency since the legislative elections of 2017. *

Nadège Abomangoli Nadège Abomangoli (born 15 September 1975) is a French politician from La France Insoumise. She was elected as the member of parliament for Seine-Saint-Denis's 10th constituency in the 2022 French legislative election. See also * List of de ...

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 Bobigny ...

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 Marxism is a Left-wing politics, left-wing to Far-left politics, far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a Materialism, materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand S ...

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, now marked in over 130 countries across the world ...

, 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. By ...

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 A ...

-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 Susanna Ounei (15 August 1945 – 21 June 2016) was a Kanak people, Kanak independence activist and feminist from New Caledonia who spent her last years in New Zealand. She supported various other causes including a nuclear free Pacific and Maor ...

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 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 Ja ...

, 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 meda ...

, Olympic figure skater *

Gaël Monfils Gaël Sébastien Monfils (; born 1 September 1986) is a French professional tennis player. He has been ATP rankings, ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in November 2016. H ...

, 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 Champio ...

, volleyball player *

Barthélémy Chinenyeze Barthélémy Chinenyeze (born 28 February 1998) is a French professional volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for Cucine Lube Civitanova and the France national team. Chinenyeze won a gold medal in the men's tournament at the Olympi ...

, 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 c ...

, 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 ven ...

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 organis ...

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

Joséphine Baker lors d'une distribution de vivres

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 Neoclassicism, neoclassical Painting, painter. Life Born free in Guadeloupe in 1760 to a French colonial official named Pierre Guillon and a "mulatto" mother, Le ...

, painter *

Fatou Diome Fatou Diome (born 1968 in Niodior) is a French-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 between France and Afr ...

, 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: Dart ...

, French actor and thespian * Dominique Thimbakala, TV newscaster for BFM TV * Kareen Guiock, TV newscaster for M6 *

Mouss Diouf Pierre Mustapha "Mouss" Diouf (28 October 1964 – 7 July 2012) was a French-Senegalese actor, comedian and humorist. Acting career Born in Dakar, Diouf was known for his lead role in '' The Beast (La bête)'' and as Baba in '' Asterix & Obelix: ...

, 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 Malians in France, French-Malian pop singer. She is best known for her hit song "Djadja (song), Djadja". She was born in Bamako, Mali and Immigration to Franc ...

, singer * Miss Dominique, 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, p ...

), singing duo * Aissa Maiga, actress * Sonia Rolland, 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 Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and ...

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 Rou ...

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 in ...

, 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 Pari ...

, 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 gaine ...

, 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 ''Balto ...

, 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 y ...

, 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 t ...

, 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 * Louise Marie Thérèse (The Black Nun of Moret)

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 *

Suzanne Césaire Suzanne Césaire (née Roussi; 11 August 1915 – 16 May 1966), born in Martinique, an overseas department of France, was a French people, French writer, teacher, scholar, anti-colonial and feminist activist, and Surrealism, Surrealist. Her husban ...

, 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 Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (; known as Alexandre Dumas; 25 March 1762 – 26 February 1806) was a Creole general, from The French colony of Saint-Domingue, in Revolutionary France. Along with his French contemporary Jo ...

, 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 considere ...

and father of

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 (people), Creole virtuoso violinist and composer, who was conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. Saint-Georges was born in the ...

, 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) 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 the first winner of ...

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, it ...

2009 * Anais Mali, model * Sonia Rolland, actress,

2000 *

, 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, 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, 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

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