Paris ( CNN ) -- Paris is home to tens of thousands of Africans who have added the tastes , sounds and look of home to the city 's cultural mix . The majority come from the Francophone North African countries of Algeria , Morocco and Tunisia , but there are also communities from Mali , Congo , Guinea , Senegal , Burkina Faso and across the continent . According to the 2009 census , the 1.9 million population of Paris includes 30,000 with Algerian nationality , 21,000 Moroccans , 15,000 Tunisians and 54,000 with other African nationalities . There are also many people who were born in Africa and now have French nationality , and French nationals with African-born parents . Many other Africans live in Paris without documentation and do not appear on official records . Watch video : African culture in `` City of Romance '' Samira Fahim set up an Algerian bakery and cafÃ© , called `` La Bague de Kenza , '' in the 11th arrondissement , or district , 17 years ago . Today it is busy with African and European customers , but it took time to establish a taste for the Algerian pastries it specializes in . `` Even though we were many Algerians living in France , it was hard to find Algerian meals in Paris at that time because we did not have a lot of tourists coming to Algeria , '' said Fahim . `` In those years , you could find plenty of Moroccan and Tunisian specialties because many tourists were going there on vacation and then coming back to France , but Algerian dishes were much harder to find . '' Watch video : Algerian food with French twist . Fahim had to adapt her recipes to appeal to home-sick Algerians , but also to French tastes . `` We do n't use too much sugar , '' she said . `` That 's because we wanted to satisfy our European clients ' requests . In Algeria those kinds of pastries are way more sugary . `` We also make up new pastries . Many kids used to ask us if we had anything with chocolate so we made up new chocolate pastries . '' Fahim also had to trust in her choice of location to see reward for her work . When she first opened , few people ventured down her street because it was unlit at night and many people told her the cafÃ© could not survive . Today , it is a thriving neighborhood . Also on Inside Africa : Film shines light on Obama 's Kenyan sister . Musician Djeli Moussa Conde is another bringing African culture to Paris . Conde , who came from Guinea nearly 20 years ago , lived his first four years in Paris without documentation . `` I arrived here with a visa that was quickly expired , '' he said . `` For four years , I stayed undocumented . It was a very , very difficult situation . I tried to cope with this situation and I got by thanks to music . '' Conde found much of his inspiration in the Menilmontant neighborhood he settled in . `` I 've always lived either in the 11th arrondissement , or in the 20th arrondissement , '' he said . `` I 've always stayed in this area . This is an area where there is a lot of diversity , many different kind of music . `` When I say diversity I mean this mix of colors between Africans , Chinese , Japanese , Malians , Guineans , Senegalese , people from Burkina Faso ... you see we 're all here . `` The music is coming from here . We 're all mixing with each other . That 's why I chose this district . '' Also on Inside Africa : Brazil 's thriving African culture . Conde specializes in playing the kora , a harp-like instrument , and describes himself as a griot , a storyteller who keeps tradition going through generations . `` Everything I have shared I have shared it through a song , with lyrics , with music , '' he said . `` It has always been like this . My father did it this way , my grandfather did it this way , my mum did it this way . '' Thirza Vallois , an author and expert on Paris , showed CNN around the La Goutte d'Or neighborhood in 18th arrondissement , home to almost 200,000 African immigrants . She lamented the closure of Lavoir Moderne Parisien , a theater which for 25 years featured African musicians , some of whom went on to enjoy international success . `` It 's so sad , the end of a venture that went on for 25 years , '' she said . `` This is the kind of place that Paris was flooded with . It would be the equivalent of off-Broadway for this community , '' she said . She said the theater was closing because gentrification of the area had made it financially unsustainable and that its owner was leaving France with his family . Though as one institution passes , others always find ways to continue their culture in this city . `` As Africans , we are foreigners in this country , '' said Conde . `` We always have to keep our own identity . Even though you mix with others , you will always keep your identity , you 'll always be an African and you must not forget where you come from . ''
Tens of thousands of Africans have called Paris home . Immigrants have brought African culture to Paris . Mohamed Fahim has run an Algerian bakery for 17 years . La Goutte d'Or ##say is a center for the African community .