Sports Editor Adam Schmitz examines two areas in Europe that are well worth seeing for their connection to Black history and culture
To celebrate Black History Month, we’re looking at two major tourist destinations in Europe that you can visit to not only explore Black culture but also support the locals of the area while you’re there.
Quito do Mocho, Lisbon, Portugal
Just an hour outside Lisbon, Quinto do Mocho is a Black neighbourhood well worth the trip from the nation’s capital. The homes here were built as social housing in the 1990s and are home to residents from Cape Verde, Guinea, and Angola. While the people here will admit to the area’s history of high unemployment and crime rates, locals are proud of the initiative that they took to turn the neighbourhood around to centre one incredible attraction: street art.
Artists were invited from all around Portugal and indeed the world to paint on over 90 apartment blocks in the area. Colourful portraits and sensational wall art bring this city to life while telling the stories of many Black locals living in Quinto do Mocho. One street art piece, by the artist Nomen, depicts a Black woman wearing the mask of a white woman, representing how many locals in the neighbourhood had to hide their true identity and even give fake addresses when applying for jobs.
You can take guided tours around Quinto do Mocho to experience a neighbourhood that arguably shows off more interesting and impactful art than anything you’ll find in Europe’s top museums.
Ch?teau Rouge, Paris, France
The world’s most visited city could never fall short of tourist attractions, ranging from famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, to The Louvre, one of the most recognised museums in the world. In Paris’ 18th district, however, lies what is regarded as the capital’s ‘Little Africa’ in Ch?teau Rouge. Not only is the area home to many families of African descent, but it's also becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination for people all around Europe, especially those with African heritage.
The residents of the area - who have heritage from countries such as Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo - credit the area’s specialised stores as the reason tourists come to visit. Shops that sell everything from African textiles to speciality, hard-to-find African food, line the streets of the vibrant neighbourhood. The area is also popular due to its active nightlife scene and authentic culture.