Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and Maison Noire Américaine present‍

Little Africa Paris: The US Book Tour

‍Join us for an afternoon with internationally recognized cultural ambassador, curator, author, publisher and philanthropist, Jacqueline Ngo Mpii (founder and CEO of Little Africa) on the US book tour of her City Guide-Africa in Paris. “Jacqui” will be in conversation with Maison Noire Amèricaine Executive Director, Robin Bates, as the two “culture-preneurial” dynamos discuss the African and African Diasporic communities in Paris as well Jacqui’s unique guide that, in its first edition, garnered more than 100 press releases covered by media platforms that included Reuters, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Africa News, Huffington Post, RFI, Jeune Afrique, Okay Africa, and CCTV in China!  

In 2016, Little Africa Paris published the City Guide-Africa in Paris  in English and French language versions. This book was the first comprehensive guide of retail businesses, restaurants, cultural attractions and events by the African diaspora in Paris. Initially printed at 3000 copies, the book was sold out within 4 months and an additional 3000 copies had to be printed. The book rapidly gained fans around the world with orders spanning from Europe, Asia, America and even Australia.

The book was so unique that the press coverage of the first edition was outstanding. More than a 100 press releases covered by the biggest media platform such as Reuters, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Africa News, Huffington Post, RFI, Jeune Afrique, Okay Africa, and CCTV in China!  On December 10th 2018, the second edition to the City Guide- Africa in Paris was released. The need to highlight and provide visibility for the vibrant but often overlooked Afro-Parisian community led Jacqueline to write a second edition that is a MANIFESTO OF LOVE to this beautiful community that is "Paris Beyond The Postcard."

‍The program will include a book signing and reception.

Behind the rise of the Little Africa enterprise is its founder and CEO, Jacqueline NGO MPII. This young entrepreneur had a vision to transform her passion for art, tourism and languages in a multidimensional project with character. It's a sustainable and inclusive enterprise whose mission is to promote the art and culture of Africa and its diaspora.

The Little Africa venture is the culmination of her seven-year career in the tourism industry. After a trip to Mexico, she was struck by the presence of afro-descendants in that country, and in that moment, she had an epiphany. In 2014, she launched the website www.littleafrica.fr.

Jacqueline first established Little Africa as a platform dedicated to the African diaspora with a focus on the promotion of the art forms and businesses of the African diaspora in Paris. The next year, she expanded to giving tours in neighborhoods ranging from Saint-Germain-des-Pres to Goutte d'Or, providing an opportunity for visitors to explore them from a new and unique perspective.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Jacqueline is constantly redefining and expanding her activities which we will touch upon this evening. She wears many hats:  cultural ambassador, curator, author, publisher and philanthropist. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, Jacqueline has been featured in publications spanning the globe and was most recently featured in Jeune Afrique and Paris Vogue’s feature “How to travel to Africa without leaving Paris?”

And finally, Jacqueline was nominated by the Huffington Post as one of the three Travel Entrepreneurs to follow.