French President Emmanuel Macron has awarded one of France’s prestigious national honors to Ali Akbar, a Pakistani-born newspaper hawker who has spent more than five decades serving the streets of Paris with news, wit, and resilience.
At a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Élysée Palace, President Macron named the 73-year-old a knight in the National Order of Merit, recognizing his extraordinary life journey and contribution to French civic life. Akbar is widely believed to be the last remaining street newspaper hawker in the French capital.
Praising Akbar’s “incredible destiny,” Macron highlighted his long-standing presence in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, where his booming voice and creative headlines became part of the area’s cultural fabric. Referring to iconic cafés such as Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots, and Brasserie Lipp, the president thanked Akbar for “warming hearts” and bringing political news to Parisian terraces for generations.
Macron described Akbar as “the accent of the 6th arrondissement” and “the voice of the French press,” applauding his mastery of the French language and his ability to use humor to connect with people from all walks of life.
Surrounded by family members, Akbar said he was deeply moved by the honor. “That’s it, I’m a knight! I’ve made it!” he exclaimed, adding that he already knew what he would shout while selling newspapers in the coming days.
Akbar arrived in France decades ago to escape poverty and support his family in Pakistan. He worked as a sailor and dishwasher before finding his calling selling newspapers, including satirical titles such as Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo, with encouragement from French humorist Georges Bernier.
Despite receiving a modest pension, Akbar continues to work daily, selling newspapers and entertaining passersby with jokes. “I’m going to continue selling newspapers,” he said. “I’m going to keep making people smile.”
