Karfa Diallo: Fighting for the Recognition of Slavery's Legacy in France
Karfa Diallo is a prominent activist and politician dedicated to uncovering and acknowledging the historical realities of the Atlantic slave trade and colonial slavery. Through decades of advocacy, he has transformed how several French cities confront their past, moving from silence to public commemoration and education.
Key Facts
- Founder: Established DiversCités in 1998, which later became the international association Mémoires & Partages.
- Legislative Impact: Successfully advocated for Senegal to recognize the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity in 2010.
- Urban Memory: Campaigned for the renaming or explanation of streets named after enslavers in major French ports.
- Cultural Initiatives: Initiated the first Black History Month in France in 2018.
- Political Role: Elected as a regional councillor for Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2023 on The Ecologists list.
The Fight for Memory in Bordeaux
Diallo's journey began in 1998 in Bordeaux with the founding of DiversCités. His primary goal was to ensure the city recognized its role in the slave trade. His efforts led the municipality, under Mayor Hugues Martin, to install a commemorative plaque on the quays and dedicate four permanent rooms at the Musée d'Aquitaine to the history of the Atlantic trade and colonial slavery.
However, Diallo has remained a critical voice regarding how this history is represented. In 2019, he criticized a sculpture of Modeste Testas by Woodly Caymitte, arguing that a person who was freed cannot adequately represent the broader struggles of those enslaved.
Expanding the Mission: Mémoires & Partages
After a period of personal doubt and the publication of his poetic essay Matins noirs (Black Mornings), Diallo returned to activism with renewed energy. In 2012, he launched Le Bordeaux nègre (The Negro Bordeaux), a guided tour designed to educate the public on the city's hidden history.
This initiative expanded into memorial trails in other major French cities. In 2013, his organization was renamed Mémoires & Partages. The association grew significantly, establishing branches in former slave-trading ports including Le Havre and La Rochelle in 2020, followed by Bayonne and Paris in 2021, and Poitiers in 2025.
Confronting the Urban Landscape
A central pillar of Diallo's work has been the campaign to rename or provide historical context for streets named after enslavers—including traders, owners, planters, and administrators. This campaign focused on the five primary French slave ports: Nantes, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Bordeaux, and Marseille.
While he succeeded in getting explanatory plaques installed in four of these cities, Diallo has noted that many of these plaques only address ship owners, neglecting other figures of the slave system. A notable victory occurred in May 2022 with the addition of Rue Colbert in Bordeaux to the list of recognized streets. Furthermore, after a protracted legal battle, he successfully campaigned to remove the name of the "La Négresse" (District of the "Negger Woman") in Biarritz.
Cultural and Political Leadership
Beyond urban memory, Diallo has worked to celebrate the contributions of the African diaspora. In February 2018, he organized the first Black History Month in France. Starting in Bordeaux, the event expanded in 2019 to various sites across Aquitaine and continued to grow in subsequent years.
Diallo has also transitioned into formal politics. After running for mayor of Bordeaux in 2001 with the "Couleurs bordelaises" list (receiving over 4% of the vote), he was elected as a regional councillor for Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2023. Representing The Ecologists, he currently serves as the only Black member of the assembly.
| Category | Achievement/Initiative | Year/Period |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional | Musée d'Aquitaine permanent slavery exhibits | Post-1998 |
| International | Senegal recognizes slavery as a crime against humanity | 2010 |
| Educational | Launch of "Le Bordeaux nègre" guided tours | 2012 |
| Cultural | First Black History Month in France | 2018 |
| Political | Election to Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council | 2023 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mémoires & Partages?
Originally founded as DiversCités in 1998, Mémoires & Partages is an international association led by Karfa Diallo that works to recognize the history of the slave trade and colonial slavery through memorial trails, guided tours, and urban renaming campaigns.
Which French cities have branches of Mémoires & Partages?
The association has established branches in several former slave-trading ports, including Bordeaux, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Bayonne, Paris, and Poitiers.
What was Diallo's impact on Senegalese law?
In 2010, Diallo successfully advocated for the government of Senegal to pass an act recognizing the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity.
How has Diallo influenced the streets of French cities?
He has campaigned for the renaming or the installation of explanatory plaques on streets named after enslavers in Nantes, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Bordeaux, and Marseille, and successfully fought to remove a derogatory district name in Biarritz.
What is Diallo's current political role?
As of 2023, Karfa Diallo is a regional councillor for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, elected on The Ecologists list, and is the sole Black member of the assembly.