The African Expat's Guide to Paris
Moving to Paris and adjusting is difficult for everyone but certain issues may arise for certain groups of people when it comes to finding places for all your essentials in a new city. If you are abroad, craving your home country's cuisine, music, community and hair products—or a non-African simply looking to try out something from a different part of the world—this guide for the African in Paris will have you covered, whether you're looking for something new or familiar.
Image credit : Sarah Mahgoub
Hair and Styling
Ladies and gents with curly or kinky hair know that finding the right products are essential. You may feel intimidated not knowing whether your favorite brands will be available in Paris, so we went out and found them for you! There are many hair-care stores geared towards natural hair—especially near the Strasbourg-Saint Denis Metro (lines 4, 8 and 9). That means brands such as Cantu, Shea Moisture, ORS, Miss Jessies and many more are available at very decent prices, as well as hair combs, clips, picks and so on. Having curly or kinky hair is not always an easy style; your favorite products and people who are familiar with your texture are essential to keep your hair looking great. Here are a few places you can check out: the hairdressers Koryn Hair at 90, rue la Fayette, 75009, and Dream Virgin Hair at 7, rue René Boulanger, 75010. You can also find both styling and your favorite products at Niwel, 81, rue La Boétie, 75008.
All the different hair products you will need are sold in Paris. Image credit: Sarah Mahgoub
Image credit: Sarah Mahgoub
Cuisine
African dishes are often complicated to make, requiring many ingredients, a large kitchen and your chef-like grandmother's skills. If you're from Africa, you might miss the home-cooked meals. Or, maybe you're simply looking to try African cuisine for the first time. Paris is very well known for its international food scene; you will find many options in this city, so don't be afraid to try something new and different. While most of these restaurants are family owned and quite small, they will definitely provide you with a great tasting, "home cooked" meal.
Some of the best places for various African cuisines are:
Ethiopian
Ethiopia, located in the horn of Africa, has a cuisine that consists mostly of various vegetable and meat dishes. Thanks to the huge choice of assortments, you can eat anything you want. For instance, vegans can focus on vegetables. La Reine de Saba an Ethiopian restaurant situated at 78 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, has a constantly-changing menu composed of very accessible dishes; everything is worth trying. Be prepared to eat with your hands (the traditional way) and have an incredibly delicious experience.
Ivorian
The Ivory Coast's cuisine is known to go a little overboard on the spices; many dishes are very well seasoned. Some of the specialties of the Ivory Coast are fried banana, rice dishes, alloco (a dish made with plantains) and yams dishes. One of the best locations is Ohinene, located at 14, rue de la Chine, 75020. When you walk into Ohinene, the decor will immediately make you feel right at home. Ohinene serves some of the best Ivorian specialties, such as Machoiron, fish cooked in a water bath, Kédjénou, a braised chicken or snail stew, and the famous Mafé, a creamy peanut sauce.
Cameroonian & Congolese
Bona Suzy (9, rue Poirier de Narçay), La Gazelle (9, rue Rennequin) and Chez Pathy M (35, rue de la Condamine) serve all the Congolese specialties, all composed of a mix of various meats, rice, spices, and vegetables. In addition, La Gazelle features various Cameroonian specialties, such as DG Chicken, a fried chicken stew served with a cocktail of plantains, vegetables and various herbs or the Soya with Macabo, beef skewers with a popular tuber-like plant, and the Ndolé, a famous Cameroonian vegetable.
Senegalese and Malian Food Truck
If you're looking for something on-the-go, then you should try Black Spoon. Make sure to check the website for their location, as they move every day. They have hosted many public events such as AfroPunk Paris, and sometimes even set up shop outside the Comptoir Generale. The Black Spoon, the first African food truck in Paris, serves traditional Senegalese and Malian dishes such as Mafé and Poulet Yassa, a Senegalese plate mostly composed of chicken, onions, and, rice. Additionally, there is Tiep Boun Diem, a Senegalese dish made of rice, fish, tomato, and vegetables. For less than 20€, you can taste authentic African specialties in record time at Black Spoon.
Image credit : Sarah Mahgoub
A traditional Ethiopian meal served for two. Image credit : Sarah Mahgoub
Fashion
If you are looking for traditional clothing from any African country, such as Congo, Mali, Ethiopia or Sudan, you are likely to find stores selling both custom-tailored fabrics and premade clothes. My personal favorite is African Beautiful, at 68, rue Doudeauville. If you are interested in finding accessories, be sure to visit a small shop called Ma Couleur à Ses Merveilles, where the owner sells her own hand-made jewelry. You can find this gem in the Passage du Désir at 50, boulevard de Strasbourg. There is also Maison Chateau Rouge, which sells pieces from all over Africa both online and in-store; find them at 40, rue Myrha.
Additionally, the Marché Noire (18, rue Perée) specializes in vintage and thrift clothes—they are often filled with denim, bold prints and authentic pieces from every African country. The clothing selection is great, and the store is also beautifully decorated with African artifacts and posters.
Image credit: Marché Noire
Some of the handmade jewelry at Ma Couleur à ses Merveilles. Image credit: Sarah Mahgoub
Nightlife and Music
If you're looking to hear some good African music on a night out, the best place is The Alize Club (14, rue de la Croix Nivert)—you're more than likely to hear tunes from African artists such as WizKid, P-Square, Fela Kuti, DavidO and Popcaan. With sleek, white benches, multicolor projectors, disco balls and beautiful dance floors, The Alize Club is the best place for a night on the town.
If you're looking to be especially classy, The Keur Samba (79, rue La Boétie) is a fancy African night club situated right next to the Champs-Elysées. Everything in this club will remind you of a club back home: the music, the drinks, the clientele and the DJs.
Image credit: Keur Samba
