Black Belgians

Black Belgians
Afrobelgen
Afrobelges
Afrobelgier
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.[1]

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.[2][3][4]

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.[citation needed]

Notable Afro-Belgians

Football players

Stromae
Romelu Lukaku
Élodie Ouédraogo
Michy Batshuayi

Other sports

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

References

  1. ^ "Origin | Statbel". statbel.fgov.be. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  2. ^ Spencer, Katrina (2023-03-28). "Exploring Black Brussels: A Trip to Matongé". Vinegar Hill Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  3. ^ "Matonge, an African home in Brussels". Reuters. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  4. ^ Beddington, Emma (2013-11-03). "Out of Africa: Brussels' vibrant Matonge quarter". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-04.