Ali Akbar, widely recognized as France’s last remaining newspaper hawker—and possibly the last in Europe—has been awarded the prestigious Order of Merit by French President Emmanuel Macron, a former customer of his.
For over 50 years, Akbar has tirelessly walked the streets of Paris’s Left Bank, selling newspapers with headlines on his lips and bundles under his arm. Since starting in 1973, he has become a well-known figure in the Saint-Germain district, especially among the cafés and newsstands that line the streets.
“When I began here in 1973, there were 35 or 40 of us hawkers in Paris,” Akbar recalled. “Now, I am alone. Everything has gone digital. People just want to look at their phones.”
President Macron, who used to buy newspapers from Akbar during his student years at Sciences Po, is set to formally honor him next month for his contributions to French cultural life.
Today, Akbar typically sells around 30 copies of Le Monde during his daily rounds. He keeps half of the sale price but receives no reimbursement for unsold copies. Before the internet era, he could sell 80 papers within the first hour of release.
“In the old days, people would crowd around me for the paper. Now I have to chase down customers,” he said.
Despite the decline in demand, Akbar, now 72, remains undeterred and full of energy.
“I am a joyous person. And I am free,” he said. “With this job, I am completely independent. No one gives me orders. That’s why I keep doing it.”
A beloved character in the neighborhood, Akbar is cherished by many long-time residents. “I first came here in the 1960s and I’ve grown up with Ali. He is like a brother,” said one woman. “He knows everyone. And he’s such fun,” added another.
Born in Rawalpindi, Akbar arrived in Europe in the late 1960s, first working on a cruise ship in Amsterdam. When the ship docked in Rouen, France in 1972, he decided to stay. He moved to Paris a year later and received his residency in the 1980s.
Though not part of the hippie movement, Akbar recalls encounters with travelers in Afghanistan who tried to persuade him to use drugs. “I told them I had a mission in life—and it wasn’t to spend a month sleeping in Kabul,” he laughed.
Over the decades, Akbar has rubbed shoulders with writers, actors, and musicians in what was once the intellectual heart of Paris. Elton John once bought him a milky tea at Brasserie Lipp. Through his paper sales outside Sciences Po, he came to know generations of future politicians—including Macron.
Reflecting on how the neighborhood has changed, he said, “The atmosphere isn’t the same. Back then, there were publishers, writers, actors, and musicians everywhere. The place had soul. Now it’s just a tourist town. The soul is gone,” he added with a smile.
Akbar’s enduring presence and vibrant personality have made him a symbol of resilience and tradition in a rapidly digitizing world. His recognition by the President underscores not only his personal dedication but also the value of human connection in a changing society.
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