AFRICA MARKET PARIS: To Laugh or To Cry

Since La France, spent the better part of the 18th Century setting up colonies and exploring the world, I think it is fair to say that in the 21st Century, the peoples of those former colonies are returning the favor. For it is now their turn to come to France, and they are not only exploring but are also importing their culture and way of life with them.

So allow me to take you beyond the glitz and glamour of the Eiffel Tower, or the towering presence of the Louvre. Instead, let’s go to the Market on an ordinary day in a predominantly French Immigrant Neighborhood: Our Destination – CHATEAU ROUGE

I WANTED TO LAUGH: Because it is true, that “you can take the monkey out of the bush, but you can never take the bush out of the monkey”. Visiting this predominantly African neighborhood in Paris, is like stepping right into Congo Market in Freetown, Serrekunda Market in Banjul, Sandaga Market in Dakar, Adjame Market in Abidjan, okay, so you get my drift. Your eyes will instantly take in the colorful array of fresh food produces lined haphazardly along the streets. Your ears will buzz with the sound of loud African accents, and peddlers cajoling you to come into their stores, and of course your nose will also suffer trauma from the odors of fermented foods which people from our part of the world refer to as their staple food. However, all in all you would love it, for it would surely transport you back to a typical market day in Africa.

Fresh products for sale everywhere

I WANTED TO CRY: Okay, not really but after perhaps a few trips to Chateau Rouge, I made the most disturbing observation. It occurred to me that for each store I went into or passed by, none of them where “owned” by Africans. In other words, everything sold in Chateau Rouge is geared towards the African community in Paris and most of the goods originate from Africa. However, despite this fact, members of this community have somehow not been able to empower themselves to being vendors of their own products. So instead everyday at Chateau Rouge, Africans remain consumers, while others sell their own goods to them and grow rich at their expense.

The Chinese have a monopoly on running African food stores

Indians have a monopoly on beauty and hair product stores

Africans when they do sell do so as petty peddlers on the street

It is illegal to sell on the streets in France so peddlers (most of them Africans) get their goods confiscated by the Gendarmerie/Police.

In the end! I always leave this section of town with mixed feelings. I am often left with the lingering question that; if we are unable to sell “our” own products to ourselves, such as seemingly mundane things such as foodstuff and cosmetics. Will we ever be able to navigate the selling on a global stage of bigger assets such as “our” natural resources and other valuables?. I am at a loss here!! Please help a sister understand if you can 🙂

Cheers!!