« I've done it, I'm a knight! ». On Wednesday, January 28, in the festive hall of the Élysée, Ali Akbar struggled to hide his emotion. At over 70 years old, the last newsboy of the Paris markets was awarded the insignia of knight of the National Order of Merit by Emmanuel Macron. A solemn moment for someone who has been resonating his voice in the streets of the Left Bank for decades.
Arriving from Pakistan at the age of 20, Ali Akbar represents for the head of state a « magnificent example » of integration « that makes our country stronger and prouder ». « You are the accent of the 6th arrondissement, the voice of the French press », he said, honoring this indispensable figure of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. D&eac.
The main character imagined the fake headline he would soon shout: « I've done it, I'm a knight ! ».See this post on Instagram
From the market to the honors of the Republic
And what a journey it has been! Ali Akbar started selling newspapers in the 1970s, after a defining encounter with one of the co-founders of Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo. He chose the Sciences Po neighborhood, where he...
generations of students, future ministers, deputies... and even a future president of the Republic.A recognizable figure among thousands, with newspapers under his arm (especially Le Monde today), he roams the streets throwing playful, humorous, and sometimes cheeky headlines. It's a way to comment on political current events with distance and a smile. “The French language has become your language,” Emmanuel Macron once told him, highlighting his love for wordplay and this "irreverent French touch" that has become his signature.
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The Last Town Cryer of Paris
Fifty years ago, there were still about forty people selling newspapers on the streets in the capital, posted near subway entrances or on the grand boulevards. Ali Akbar, however, chose to stroll around and create his own catchy headlines in the 1980s. A uniqueness that has allowed him to stand the test of time.
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Today, in this digital age, he sells about thirty newspapers a day, compared to 150 to 200 in his early days. With a retirement of about 1,000 euros per month, he continues to work from 3 PM to 10 PM. And despite the medal, there's no question of retiring. « I'm going to stay, keep selling newspapers , he smiles, determined to « entertain people with my jokes ».