Ali Akbar, Paris's last newspaper hawker, is to be honored with the Order of Merit, one of France's highest distinctions, by President Emmanuel Macron next month. The 72-year-old has dedicated over 50 years to selling newspapers on the Left Bank, a picturesque area of the city where he became a well-known and cherished figure.
Beginning his journey in 1973, Akbar recalls the bustling days when there were 35 to 40 hawkers selling papers across Paris. “Now I am alone,” he reflects sadly, recognizing the impact of the digital age on his craft. “People just want to consult their telephones.” Despite this shift, he persists in his daily rounds through fashionable Saint-Germain, where he typically sells about 30 copies of Le Monde, keeping half the sale price without returns.
While the decline of his trade could be discouraging, Akbar remains joyful. “I am a joyous person. With this job, I am completely independent. There is no-one giving me orders.” Friends and admirers in the area affirm his joyful spirit and deep connection with the local community, with one describing him as “like a brother.”
Originally from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Akbar arrived in Europe in the late 1960s, eventually settling in Paris in 1973. Over the years, he has met a myriad of celebrities and future leaders, including Macron, who once purchased newspapers from him in his student days.
Reflecting on the changes in Saint-Germain, Akbar laments the loss of its artistic soul, expressing nostalgia for the days filled with writers, artists, and musicians. “The atmosphere isn't the same,” he says. “The place had soul. But now it is just tourist-town.” Despite the transformation, he continues to greet the dawn with joy and an unwavering commitment to his craft.
