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Entrée to Black Paris Blog

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Thursday, July 25th, 2024

Africa Station Is Open

Cover image: Women emerging from Senegal stand at Africa Station
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On March 28, I published an article about plans to create a Paris Olympics "fan zone" called Africa Station.

The zone, which is located in Stade Robert-César at 59, quai de la Marine on Ile Saint-Denis, officially opened on July 20.

I visited the venue the following day.

I took loads of photos and am sharing the best of them below.

Entrance to Africa Station
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The site opens at 2 PM and closes at 10 PM daily (or midnight when concerts are held). I arrived at around 2:30 PM and was surprised to find that several of the country stands were closed.

In chatting with a couple of people, I learned that the bulk of visitors are expected to arrive in the late afternoon and evening each day.

I was also told that many more people are expected to frequent Africa Station once the Games open on Friday, July 26.

Algeria
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Concert stage
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Ethiopia and Kenya
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Ivory Coast
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Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Ghana
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Nigeria
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Senegal
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Radio France Internationale (RFI - radio and video streaming) has set up its operation next to Senegal's stand. It will broadcast several shows from Africa Station during the course of the Games.

RFI stand (left) and projection screen
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RFI schedule
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I met Celio Mirande at the Ivory Coast stand. His Conficulture card games provide quizzes on African and Afro-Caribbean history. He posed for me holding his only English-language card deck - Kings and Queens of Africa.

RFI stand and projection screen
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Celio Mirande
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Kings and Queens of Africa
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An open air restaurant area with food trucks and stands can be found adjacent to the country stands. On the way there, visitors pass a giant mosquito and a photo exhibition about eliminating malaria in Africa.

Direction post
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Mosquito and Health Athletes photo exhibition
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Health Athletes - James Patrick photo of malaria testing in Zambia
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Dining area
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Because I arrived so early in the day, I did not find vendors who were ready to serve full meals.

Afrik'n Fusion food truck
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Savane & Mousson Afro-Asian fusion food truck
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At NBrick, a North African food truck, I was able to order a cup of soft-serve yogurt ice cream with strawberry syrup as a topping.

Nbrick food truck
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I was amused to find a customer pedaling a machine that blended the smoothie she ordered.

Blending a smoothie at NBrick
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Continuing on my tour, I decided to venture into Club 2024. This space, which is adjacent to Africa Station, is where Olympic competitions will be broadcast for local residents at no charge.

The first thing I saw when I crossed the "threshold" into Club 2024 was a stand where women will braid your hair.

Hair braiding stand
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As I walked along the path of rubber mats that leads to the projection screen, I saw the water games area and areas where visitors can engage in their own sporting activities.

Club 2024 - water games
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Club 2024 - archery
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Much of the field is occupied by lawn chairs that face the broadcasting screen.

Club 2024 - lawn chairs and projection screen
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Vendors are set up on the periphery of the field in the area where the hair braiding stand is found.

I met Cédric Chokouaha there. He and his brother, Arnaud, are the creators of Yohel Toys, a brand of magnetized wood puzzles that teach the history and culture of Africa and Martinique.

Yohel Toys
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Arnaud and Cédric Chokouaha
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Their products are beautiful and are available in several languages.

I ventured back into Africa Station, walking past the VIP area that will welcome African medalists, dignitaries, and celebrities who visit the fan zone.

Africa Station VIP area
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In retracing my steps through the restaurant area, I stopped to look at a stand that offers gourmet foodstuffs and cosmetics. Several brands are being sold there.

Gourmet boutique
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The food items are sold by a new online gourmet grocer called Africery. I sampled from all the trays you see on the table in the photograph above - a chocolate cake/cookie made from Inakobé, a gluten-free, vegan flour substitute composed of cocoa, plantain, coconut, cinnamon, and star anise; toffee; dried mangos; and "ginger snaps" made with mint.

I also sampled the cocoa beans dusted with powdered sugar that you see in the dark bowl near the back of the table.

Everything was delicious!

The owners of Africery and Inakobé were not present when I visited the stand, but two of the women who set up the displays and presented the products allowed me to photograph them.

Adjacent to this table is another table with displays of products by Rafete Curls, an all-natural, environmentally friendly hair care brand whose motto is "Embrace your curls and your identity."

Founder Awa Lamotte proudly presented her products to me.

From the restaurant area, I made my way back to the country stands and took a final look around. A meeting was taking place at the Senegal stand.

After several minutes, beautifully dressed women emerged from the tent.

Because Senegal is hosting the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, many activities will take place at Africa Station to bridge the 2024 Olympic Games with the competition that will be hosted in Dakar in 2026.

GETTING TO AFRICA STATION

If you're thinking of visiting Africa Station, be aware that getting there IS NOT EASY.

All venues in Paris and the surrounding areas that are associated with the Games are subject to physical and human barriers to entry. Residents in these areas and people who have official business with the Games have been issued a QR code that allows them to gain access in a private vehicle. Others who approach in motor vehicles will be denied access.

As a pedestrian, you are generally able to enter these areas but are likely to encounter barriers that prevent you from using certain crosswalks, forcing you to walk "out of your way" to get to your destination.

Africa Station is no exception.

The entrance to Quai de la Marine, the street leading to the main entrance at Stade Robert-César, is blocked at its intersection with rue Méchin by a team of national police officers. If you do not have a designated QR code, you will not be able to enter via taxi or Uber.

You can walk to the stadium from this barrier in 15-20 minutes.

There is a free shuttle train that will transport you between the barrier and the stadium, but the stop (called "Mairie") is on a side street (Rue du 8 mai 1945) that is a block past the police barrier. The train runs every 30 minutes between 1 PM and 9 PM.

If you want to attend a specific event at Africa Station or watch a particular competition at Club 2024*, be sure to allow plenty of time to get there.

If you're in central Paris and plan to use public transportation, allow AT LEAST ONE HOUR of transit time. Find the best route at RATP.fr.

*Note that Club 2024 has its own (well marked) entrance on quai de la Marine.