The Hustle Bustle of Little Africa

The Hustle Bustle of Little Africa

The hustle-bustle of Little Africa in Paris is not something we see in portraits when people talk about what Paris is like, yet this is just a seven-minute walk from where I’m staying in Montmartre. I felt a connection to the whole vibe of the streets in Château Rouge because it reminds me so much of where I came from. People selling their things directly on the pavement or in the middle of the street, offering cheap fake earphones, selling African pears (safou) which I first mistook for eggplants, steamed peanuts, and so on. One minute it's bustling with energy, the next second the cops come and the streets empty out instantly. I feel a constant push and pull toward this neighbourhood, although ultimately, this story isn't about me. But theirs.

© Nuril Basri, 2026

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