The Colombian community in Paris is one of the most vibrant ones in the diaspora. With a presence spanning several decades, Colombia now has informal ambassadors in the City of Light who, through their daily interactions, represent their nation in Paris, France, and beyond. There are at least 100,000 Colombians in France, who herald from across Colombia. The majority of the Colombian community of France resides in Paris and its suburbs.
Colombia One recently met with these Colombians who have settled on the other side of the Atlantic to seek new opportunities to learn what is like living in France as a Colombian. Whether working in the restaurant industry, in music, or in art, Colombians in France have successfully maintained their identity while also embracing French culture.
Colombians in Paris, a supportive community
Carmen Rosa Ortiz Molina is a local figure in the Colombian community in Paris. Originally from Bogota, she arrived in the French capital in 1991 as a student. She eventually built a career as a public accountant, where she specialized in helping other Colombian immigrants. “I started practicing in Colombian companies and managed to create a Colombian business community here in France,” she says. Through her work, Molina has helped dozens of other Colombians to create companies in their new country. “I raised awareness among Colombian immigrants that they had a second chance at an organized life. I helped them build businesses and guided them,” she continues.
Solidarity is a strong trait among members of the Colombian diaspora. “The community is very supportive,” affirms Alfredo Escobar, owner of the art gallery The Muisca and Coffee Shop Escocafé, which are located in the Marais district of Paris. “If I have the opportunity to help a Colombian or a Colombian brand, I do it. We’re always focused on helping each other.” His employee Richard, who is originally from Cartagena de Indias, participated in barista training through a local Colombian association. The skills he developed led him to the job at The Muisca.
At Dicha, a Colombian-owned restaurant in northern Paris, solidarity is also important. There, all the employees are Colombian. “There are so many Colombians looking for work that it makes sense to have Colombian employees,” says Juan David Castillo, the co-founder of the restaurant. Originally from Manizales, Castillo is better known as “El Man de los Chorizos” (“The Chorizo Guy”). A true influencer with more than 77,000 followers on Instagram, he first made a name for himself as a Colombian chorizo caterer before becoming a restaurateur.
“Colombia is in vogue”
For Castillo, representing Colombia is an integral part of his work. “Bringing the Colombian community together is something I see as my purpose,” he says. Thanks to his efforts, his joy, and the quality of his products, Dicha has become a showcase for Colombian gastronomy and culture. “There’s a movement around what I do as ‘El Man de los Chorizos,’” he explains. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Colombian dishes, especially the famous chorizos, corn or cheese arepas, empanadas, tamales, Colombian sodas, and daily specials inspired by Colombian cuisine, as well as Italian specialties.
Castillo’s associate and co-owner of Dicha, Maximo, believes Colombia is having a moment. “Colombia is a bit in vogue right now, which is a good, positive thing,” he says. Originally from Medellin, Henao arrived in France in 2003. Over time, he has noticed that perceptions of Colombia are changing. “Very few people still associate Colombia with drugs. Many people have visited, want to visit, or know Colombia through an artist, a movie, or food. It wasn’t like that before,” he says.
Colombian-owned businesses such as these have become true showcases for promoting and presenting Colombia and Colombians as they really are. In addition to her work as a public accountant, Molina also owns Cafés Semilleros de Colombia, located near Paris’s Pigalle district. The shop offers small pieces of Colombia: national team jerseys, Wayuu bags, Colombian coffee, corn flour, and traditional hats. “Enjoying Colombia’s beautiful image abroad is a privilege. It makes you feel very proud,” she says.
For Escobar, his art gallery and coffee shop are also spaces through which he can present a positive image of Colombia. “People don’t know Colombia; it needs good ambassadors,” he comments, adding that “the interesting thing about this space is the cultural exchange that allows us to showcase what we have in Colombia,” whether it’s art, culture, coffee, or natural wonders.
The Colombian community in Paris
There is no precise data on the number of Colombians residing in Paris, but the community is estimated to include several tens of thousands of individuals. Many of them live in the northern districts of Paris, around Place de Clichy, or in the suburbs, particularly in the Seine-Saint-Denis department. In addition to small businesses, the Colombian community is well-represented in the construction and administration sectors.
The first wave of Colombian emigration took place in the 1990s, a decade marked by severe economic recession and violence in Colombia. Today, education is one of the main pathways for emigration. France is the fifth most popular destination for Colombian students, with nearly 5,000 students enrolled each year, many of whom stay after completing their studies.
Despite the small size of the Colombian diaspora, there are many places in Paris which pay homage to Colombia and its historical figures. In addition to Place de Colombie in the 16th arrondissement, there is Place Gabriel Garcia Marquez in the 7th, and a statue of the liberator, Simon Bolivar, near the famous Place de la Concorde.
The power of music
Music is one of the great strengths of the Colombian diaspora, helping facilitate integration and promote a positive image of Colombia in France. Maritza Arizala Ruiz is an ambassador of Colombian musical culture. Arriving in France in 1989, the Cali native is the founder and director of the first salsa school in Paris and in all of France, the Academia Maritza Arizala. “I can’t let Colombia down,” Ruiz says, who also teaches salsa at the school. “I carry a responsibility; I represent a country, and I have to represent it well.”
During her career, Ruiz has introduced hundreds of French people to Cali-style salsa, as well as other Latin genres like Merengue or Cumbia, an experience that has taught her a lot about the French and about herself. “The French are very curious,” she says. “I feel that I contribute a lot. They tell me they come for my joy; as well as simply learning the dance, there are other things that bring them to the classes,” she explains, visibly moved. “Through dance, I am able to lift people out of sadness, out of this somewhat rigid way of thinking, and give life another dimension and meaning.”
Juan Fernando and Juan Manuel are two other pioneers of Colombian music in France. Settled in the country for about four decades, they recently formed a Colombian folk music band, Melocoton (Peach), which offers French audiences a taste of traditional Colombian music like cumbia, joropo, and currulao, along with other Colombians from across the country.
“Music is the bond that connects us to Colombia,” says Juan Fernando. The band, which brings together Colombians from Bogota, Pereira, and La Merced (Caldas), showcases the incredible diversity of instruments used in Colombia: maracas, guacharaca, tuba, saxhorn, trombone, soprano saxophone, and clarinet.
Juan Manuel affirms: “There is a great reception for Colombian and Latin music in Paris and throughout France.” Colombian music is extremely popular, with numerous bars and clubs offering a wide range of Latin music, from reggaeton to salsa to other Caribbean rhythms like bachata and cumbia.
Melocoton was recently highlighted during the Paris Olympics, where various performances of Colombian music contributed to the overall festive atmosphere of the Games.
“It’s a source of pride. Playing the instruments of one’s homeland is priceless; it’s something beautiful that cannot be compared to anything else,” says Hernan Camilo, the group’s clarinetist.
Colombians in Paris: a welcomed and appreciated community
For Felipe Rocha, a Bogota native and DJ at El Salsero, one of the Latino bars in the Latin Quarter, Latin culture offers a lot to the French. “In Paris, there are many Latinos, and the French really appreciate our culture,” he says happily. “Here, people love salsa and enjoy reggaeton parties. They like the warm, festive Latin atmosphere. At first, people are shy, but dancing generates emotions they aren’t used to in France.”
The Colombian community is already well-accepted and integrated into French society. “If they behave well, society helps them. The police already know them and allow them to have barbecues in the street and dance,” agrees Molina.
Maximo, the co-owner of Dicha agrees that through their daily behaviors and attitudes, Colombians in France have earned the respect and affection of the locals. “People realize how we Colombians are, and they appreciate it,” he says.
Escobar feels that Colombia has much to offer France and the world. “Colombian culture is very rich, beautiful, and well-crafted, from the perspective of family values, work, rest, leisure, and dance,” he says. “The Colombian, as a cultural being, is the best we have to offer the world.”