Black Belgians

Black Belgians

Afrobelgen Afrobelges Afrobelgier
Four Studies of the Head of a Negro by Rubens, c. 1615. The unidentified subject of the oil sketch was probably a resident of Antwerp. [1]
Regions with significant populations
Throughout Belgium
Languages
Dutch • French • German • Languages of Africa
Religion
Christianity • Islam • Traditional African religions • Non-adherence

Afro-Belgians (Dutch : Afrobelgen; French : Afrobelges; German : Afrobelgier) or Black Belgians, are defined as Belgians of Sub-Saharan African descent.

A total of 358,268 Sub-Saharan Africans live in Belgium in 2023, comprising 3.06% of the population, according to Statistics Belgium. 95,282 Sub-Saharan Africans live in Brussels. ^[2]

Most Sub-Saharan Africans in Belgium originate from Guinea,Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo (country), Rwanda, and Burundi. The Brussels neighborhoods of Ixelles and Matonge have large Black populations. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

A street scene in Matonge, one of Belgium's most diverse neighborhoods with a high African population (2009)

Two supporters of the Belgian national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Belgium national team

In 2017, 19 out of 52 total players in the men's Belgium national football team were of African origin. ^[6]

Notable Afro-Belgians

Football players

Stromae

Romelu Lukaku

Élodie Ouédraogo

Michy Batshuayi

• Aster Vranckx
• Koni De Winter
• Jérémy Doku
• Julien Duranville
• Kossivi Amédédjisso
• Christian Kabasele
• Jackson Tchatchoua
• Lamisha Musonda
• Charly Musonda
• Cyril Ngonge
• Dylan Damraoui
• Eric Asomani
• Ibrahima Cissé
• Isaac Asare
• Michy Batshuayi
• Manuel Benson
• Christian Benteke
• Jonathan Benteke
• Mayola Biboko
• Anthony Vanden Borre
• Dedryck Boyata
• Jonathan Buatu
• Luis Pedro Cavanda
• Mousa Dembélé
• Jason Denayer
• Julien Ngoy
• Arnaud Djoum
• Emmanuel Eboué
• Nathan Kabasele
• Vincent Kompany
• Cheikhou Kouyaté
• Mulopo Kudimbana
• Roland Lamah
• Aaron Leya Iseka
• Jordan Lukaku
• Romelu Lukaku
• Roger Lukaku
• Junior Malanda
• Ilombe Mboyo
• Gaby Mudingayi
• Maecky Ngombo
• Denis Odoi
• Marvin Ogunjimi
• Funso Ojo
• Divock Origi
• Ebrima Ebou Sillah
• Youri Tielemans
• Bertin Tokéné
• Clinton Mata
• Cyriel Dessers
• Denzel Jubitana
• Mike Mampuya
• Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe
• Johan Bakayoko
• Tyrese Omotoye
• Beni Badibanga
• Kéres Masangu
• Antef Tsoungui
• Maecky Ngombo
• Gerard
• Samuel Bastien
• Killian Sardella
• Koni De Winter
• Mario Stroeykens
• Nathan de Medina
• Regillio Tuur
• Loïs Openda
• Igor Vetokele
• Amadou Onana
• Émile Mpenza
• Floribert N'Galula
• Pieter Mbemba
• Ryan Mmaee
• Samy Mmaee
• Scott Bitsindou
• Senna Miangué
• Seydina Diarra
• Jacky Donkor
• Zinho Gano
• Orel Mangala
• Pierre Dwomoh
• Roméo Lavia
• Thierry Lutonda
• Camil Mmaee
• Diego Moreira
• Mike Trésor
• Ryan Sanusi
• Faris Haroun
• Nadjim Haroun

Other sports

• Corliss Waitman
• Naomi Schiff
• D. J. Mbenga, basketball player
• Élodie Ouédraogo, track athlete
• Nafissatou Thiam, heptathlon athlete
• Sugar Jackson, boxer

Politicians

• Assita Kanko, politician, member of the European Parliament
• Pierre Kompany, politician, the first black mayor in Belgium, father of football player Vincent Kompany
• Wouter Van Bellingen, politician and the first black alderman in Belgium

Arts and music

• Damso, rapper
• Leki, singer
• Ronny Mosuse, singer-songwriter
• Stromae, singer-songwriter
• Roland Gunst, film director
• Fatou Samba, singer, rapper
• Marc Zinga, actor
• Eric Kabongo, actor
• Martha Canga Antonio, actress
• Ya Kid K, singer, rapper
• Lous and the Yakuza, singer, model
• Viktor Lazlo, singer, writer
• Marie Daulne, singer (Zap Mama)

References

1. Sutton, Peter C.; Rubens, Peter Paul; Wieseman, Marjorie E.; Hout, Nico van (2004-01-01). Drawn by the Brush: Oil Sketches by Peter Paul Rubens. Yale University Press. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-300-10626-8.
2. "Origin | Statbel". statbel.fgov.be. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
3. Spencer, Katrina (2023-03-28). "Exploring Black Brussels: A Trip to Matongé". Vinegar Hill Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
4. "Matonge, an African home in Brussels". Reuters. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
5. Beddington, Emma (2013-11-03). "Out of Africa: Brussels' vibrant Matonge quarter". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-07-04.
6. "Belgium's African roots".