Get to know Paris’s ‘Little Africa’ with Jacqueline Ngo Mpii
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Jacqueline Ngo Mpii is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Little Africa Paris, a cultural agency that helps individuals and businesses connect with the best of African culture in Paris. We caught up with Jacqueline to hear more about her work, the African influence in Paris, and the hidden gems in her favorite neighborhood.
Tell us more about Little Africa Paris.
We invite people to dive into African and Black culture in Paris through experiences, art, music, food, literature, a media platform, many things! I was the first to create a fashion walking tour and guidebook promoting the African neighborhood of Paris’ 18th District in a very positive and contemporary way. For the last two years, we’ve had a retail space, Little Africa Village, where we have fashion, design, crafts, and food brands from the continent and its diaspora. On the second floor, we have an art gallery where we host events such as our film screening.
Why did you decide to start the company?
When I first started, I felt like people weren’t aware that there are so many Black people in Paris and the contributions we make. I wanted to change the narrative from the negative one I was seeing to show us positively. For the first two to three years, I wrote most of the content for the platform and then started the tours. As I started getting more customers, they began asking for more recommendations beyond the tours and that’s how the idea for the city guidebook came about. The retail space started in the same way: a lot of customers and travelers were identifying us as a physical space when we were not one, so I thought maybe there was something there as they weren’t just seeing us as a product. We’ve created a home for everybody who questioned themselves about African culture and for all the Black travelers coming to Paris who want to feel like there are people who understand them and their experiences.
What are the influences of Black culture in Paris?
The primary influence is West Africa. In London where the central African influence is from English-speaking countries like Ghana and Nigeria, here in France, it's predominantly from French-speaking countries. Then there's also the influence from the French Caribbean territories like Guadeloupe and Martinique, which adds another layer to the black culture in Paris. These influences manifest in various ways, particularly in the neighborhoods where you can find areas that reflect those cultures through languages, food, and traditions. I also think fashion is where you can see how these communities have influenced Parisian culture. For instance, the emergence of wax fabric in contemporary fashion—years ago, it was virtually unknown outside of African communities, but now it's been reappropriated by a new generation and even incorporated into collections by big luxury fashion houses.
Which neighborhoods can we explore to get to see those influences for ourselves?
The neighborhood known as Little Africa is called Goutte d'Or, situated in the 18th arrondissement. This area is where I chose to establish our retail space and cultural center. There’s also another neighborhood called Château d'Eau in the 10th arrondissement. It's historically been known for being home to African hair stores and salons, but in recent years it's also seen a surge in African restaurants.
What are some Black-owned businesses to have on our radar?
Eat: L’embuscade Pigalle, an Afro-vegan restaurant located in Pigalle. It's not only a great spot for delicious vegan food but also transforms into a lively bar at night, serving fantastic cocktails. LOYO restaurant serves great Afro-Creole food. I also recommend Table Metis.
Shop: Visit Little Africa Village to shop for Black-owned brands. There’s a designer I love who is a true boss lady, creating unique and stylish outfits with a strong African influence. Another brand to check out is Annike, a jewelry brand started by a woman from Benin. She creates stunning pieces using ebony wood and cow horn, supporting artists on the continent.
What’s your favorite place to go at the moment?
There’s a coffee shop located in our neighborhood where I love going. It's called Ola’s Cafe. I’m a big lover of pastries so when I need to have a moment to myself, I go there. The food is really good.