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This spring, the centre Pompidou is celebrating contemporary black artists and their creative worlds. Many other events are being organised in Paris to coincide with this flagship exhibition, giving visitors the chance to discover a prolific and attractive calendar dedicated to African, Afro-American, overseas and Caribbean culture. The cultural sites, gastronomy, shopping addresses and party spots offer a journey to the heart of a cosmopolitan and dynamic Paris.
Before closing its doors for several years of renovation work, the Centre Pompidou is presenting the exhibition Black Paris. Artistic circulations and anti-colonial resistance, 1950 - 2000 from 19 March to 30 June 2025. This flagship event highlights the importance and influence of black artists in France over a 50-year period. These Afro-descendant artists, who expressed themselves through various movements such as abstract art, Surrealism and free figuration, had a major influence on modernist and post-modernist movements, while encouraging reflection on the themes of racism, the quest for identity and exile. To mark the occasion, the museum has brought together paintings, sculptures, photographs and videos by 150 black artists of African, American and Caribbean descent. Many of the works on display have never been seen before in France. In addition to emblematic figures such as Léopold Sédar Senghor, Aimé Césaire and Joséphine Baker, there are works by many other artists, including Kader Attia and Maya Angelou. Four contemporary installations have been specially created for the exhibition by Valérie John, Nathalie Leroy-Fiévée, Jay Ramier and Shuck One. Lectures, film screenings and a programme of live performances round off the visit.
‘Black Paris. Artistic movements and anti-colonial struggles 1950-2000’
From 19 March to 30 June 2025
11am to 9pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 11 am to 11 pm on Thursday. Closed Tuesday and 1st May.
Alongside this exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, Paris is hosting a number of events celebrating the richness and diversity of African, Afro-American and Caribbean culture. Until 7 September 2025, the Musée de l'Homme is presenting an exhibition on wax, its history and influence on the worlds of fashion, art and design. Until 18 May 2025, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie will be showcasing the work of photographer Dennis Morris, a witness to black British culture known for his photographs immortalising many of the stars of the reggae and punk scene. On the music front, the ‘Disco - I'm coming out’ exhibition - on show at the Philharmonie de Paris until 17 August 2025 - traces the history of this musical movement, closely linked to Afro-American culture and the fight for civil rights for blacks, homosexuals and women.
Until 12 April 2025, Zimbabwean artist Troy Makaza will be exhibiting at Galerie Poggi, while Galerie Backslash will be inviting American artist Riley Holloway, known for his paintings and drawings on the themes of personal memory and identity. From 13 May to 1 June 2025, the ‘Traversées africaines’ event will be showcasing works by contemporary artists from the African continent in some twenty Paris galleries.
The ‘Blacks Legends’ show, at Bobino until 26 April 2025, pays tribute to Afro-American music and its emblematic artists (Nina Simone, Prince, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Beyoncé, James Brown...) while recounting their quest for rights and freedom. The Philharmonie de Paris is offering a Caribbean weekend from 15 to 18 May 2025 to showcase the mixed sounds of the Creole repertoire and Caribbean jazz.
In a more Parisian spirit, the musical Joséphine Baker, also on stage at Bobino on 6 and 7 June 2025 and again from 9 October to 25 January 2026, revisits the extraordinary destiny of this icon of the Roaring Twenties and outstanding resistance fighter from a black ghetto in Missouri.
As part of its ‘African Cultural Season Paris 2025’ at Espace Mas Paris, Dream Team Africa is organising the Foire d'Afrique Paris from 1 to 3 May 2025 and Fashion Week Africa on 9 June 2025.
Other major events will also punctuate the year's cultural programme: AKAA (Also Known As Afrika), the contemporary art and design fair focusing on Africa, returns for its 10th edition at the Carreau du Temple from 24 to 26 October 2025.
Black History Month, organised every February in English-speaking countries to celebrate the history of black people, the African diaspora and its importance to the world's heritage, is also being commemorated in France and in Paris with a programme of exhibitions, meetings, workshops and debates. The ‘Black Women Power’ exhibition, which is free and open until 30 April 2025, highlights the creativity and commitment of female street artists. Through murals, collages and graffiti, it celebrates the diversity and power of black female figures. To be discovered at the Centre socioculturel Maurice Noguès (Paris 14th), Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm.
Parisian museums such as the Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, which specialises in the arts and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, the Musée de l'Homme and the Musée national de l'histoire de l'Immigration highlight African and Caribbean history and culture in their collections. A number of Parisian galleries specialise in African art, past and present, showcasing up-and-coming contemporary artists from West Africa, East Africa and the Maghreb. The curious can push open the doors of Galerie Magnin-A, Galerie Noir d'Ivoire, AFIKARIS Gallery, 31 PROJECT, Galerie Art-Z and Galerie 127. A place of remembrance par excellence, the Panthéon, which commemorates three great black figures who left their mark on the French nation: Félix Éboué, Alexandre Dumas and Joséphine Baker, is open to visitors.
The 360 Paris Music Factory, a hybrid venue dedicated to musical diversity, offers an eclectic programme of world music throughout the year.
Finally, the Maison des mondes africains (MansA), a new cultural venue dedicated to African creativity, is due to open its doors in June 2025 in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.
Did you know? Art is everywhere! Even, and especially, in the streets and on the walls of the city! Château-Rouge metro station is home to the 3 m high, 10 m long ceramic work ‘Célébrations’ by contemporary artist Barthélémy Toguo, originally from Cameroon.
Paris is full of good addresses, restaurants and grocery shops where you can indulge in the flavours of Africa and the Caribbean. Among the not-to-be-missed are the mafés of Waly Fay, the mafés, yassas and tieps of BMK-Paris Bamako, Petit Dakar, Le Khelkom and Dibi; the produce and tasty dishes of chef Anto Cocagne's Baraka grocery-table; the Ethiopian dishes of Ménélik or the specialities of the community restaurant La Cantine de Belleville...
In recent years, a new trend in African cuisine has emerged and is being discovered in Paris. Let yourself be tempted by the flavours of chef Pierre Siewe at La Table Penja, at the crossroads of bistronomy and African terroirs, the multi-influenced dishes of young star chef Mory Sacko at his restaurant MoSuke, contemporary dishes like Antoine Lecoq's masa at Kuti, the pastries at Le Kori Doré in Puteaux, Phildera Diazabakana's creative menu at Le Layon...
There's no shortage of restaurants in Paris where you can sample Creole cuisine, from cod accras and chicken colombo to rougail, samossas and curries. La Créole, Caffé Créole, Ti Case Créole and Gwada Café invite you to sample the authentic, fragrant cuisine of the West Indies, Papa Yoyo and Kossaidi offer traditional Réunionese specialities, while the restaurant Jah Jah by Le Tricycle serves vegan dishes with Afro-Caribbean influences.
The Baba Zulu, Mama Jackson, Juicy Pop and New Soul Food Le Maquis restaurants offer a taste of soul food from the Afro-American culinary traditions of the southern United States. Try the Cajun-spiced fried chicken, mac and cheese, chicken and waffles or jambalaya.
Afro, afrobeats and kizomba nights are organised all year round in Parisian clubs such as Wanderlust, Movida Club, Cabaret Sauvage, Dock B, Bizz'art and La Bellevilloise. Follow the La Créole, MOS and Therapy groups to find out about upcoming events in Paris. For fans of a jazzy atmosphere, La Rhumerie, a veritable institution on Boulevard Saint-Germain, offers concerts on Sunday and Monday evenings. The 911 xperience, the Sape Bar on the 1st floor of the 25hours Hôtel Terminus Nord, the Twenty one sound bar and the Keur Samba are also great places to have a drink or party.
Many of the shops located around the Château-Rouge and Château d'Eau metro stations offer spices, exotic fruits, culinary specialities and fashion items... Drop in at the Compagnie du Sénégal et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CSAO), Superfly Records or Afrikanista, the wax shops on rue Doudeauville or Maiwax eyewear, or take a trip to the Barbès market, held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, or the Dejean market, the largest in Ile-de-France for products from West Africa.
Much more than just a concept store, Little Africa Village, created by the cultural agency Little Africa, offers visitors a chance to connect with the best of African culture through a special selection, events, meetings and visits.
Tati Barbès, the legendary shop that closed its doors in 2021, will host the ephemeral department stores' until June 2025. Chaired by Youssouf Fofana, founder of the Château Rouge brand, and the International Youth Union, this hybrid cultural centre and concept store offers a rich programme of exhibitions, workshops and a fine selection of independent fashion brands.
On the cultural front, the Présence africaine bookshop in the Latin Quarter has been open since the 1960s, offering a wide selection of books and meetings with authors.
In the north and east of Paris, the Barbèsand Goutte d'Or districts** vibrate to the rhythm of African culture. A variety of stalls, grocery shops, hairdressers, typical restaurants, young designer boutiques on rue Myrha and rue des Gardes, wax shops on rue Doudeauville and cultural venues such as the Louxor cinema and the Institut des Cultures d'Islam all come together to plunge visitors into the heart of the African continent.
In the Footsteps of African Culture in Paris invites to discover the many facets of African culture during a stroll.
To take your discovery even further, take advantage of the guided tours of Entrée to Black Paris and ‘Paris Noir’ by Kévi Donat.
The African districts are located in the 18th arrondissement in the north of Paris, near the Château Rouge metro station, in the Barbès and Goutte d'Or districts and around the Château d'Eau metro station.
Spring brings a host of events (exhibitions, fairs, shows, etc.) to the capital. The milder temperatures also mean that you can make the most of the parks and outdoor activities.
Museums and cultural sites are offering their new exhibitions to brighten up the capital from March to June 2025.
