Paris’ last known newspaper hawker, Ali Akbar, is set to receive one of France’s highest civilian honors, recognizing his decades of dedication to a fading tradition.
Since 1973, Akbar has been a familiar figure in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, selling newspapers with a signature mix of humor and positivity. “I don’t just sell papers,” he explains. “I try to make people laugh, bring some joy into their day. It’s about reaching people’s hearts, not their wallets.”
Despite the digital age drastically cutting newspaper sales, Akbar remains a steadfast presence. “I sell maybe 20 copies of “Le Monde” in eight hours,” he says. “Everything is digital now, but I still have my loyal customers who come every day.”
One of those customers is lawyer Marie-Laure Carriere, who considers Akbar an essential part of the neighborhood. “Ali is more than a newspaper seller. He’s part of our lives. We don’t just buy “Le Monde” from him — we have coffee, sometimes lunch. If Ali weren’t here, Saint-Germain-des-Prés wouldn’t be the same.”
Akbar’s unwavering spirit has made him a local institution, preserving a slice of Parisian life that has otherwise vanished. Newspaper hawkers began to disappear in the mid-1970s as television and later digital media took over as primary news sources.
Born in Pakistan, Akbar moved to France in 1973 and has been keeping the hawker tradition alive ever since. His dedication has now been acknowledged by President Emmanuel Macron, who will bestow upon him the title of Knight of the Grand Order of Merit, an honor given for distinguished civilian or military service to France.
Despite the recognition, Akbar has no plans to stop. “I’ll keep selling newspapers as long as my health allows,” he says. For many locals, he is a symbol of the neighborhood’s authenticity.
Ali Akbar will officially receive his medal in a ceremony this September. Photo by zoetnet, Wikimedia commons.