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Entrée to Black Paris Blog

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Thursday, December 4th, 2025

Josephine Baker Commemoration in Le Vésinet

Cover image: Model for Josephine Baker Commemorative Sculpture
© Entrée to Black Paris

On Sunday, November 30, 2025, the town of Le Vésinet, the Joséphine Baker Commemorative Site team, the Le Vésinet Historical Society, the Fondation pour le Vésinet, and the Musée Joséphine Baker et des Afro-Descendants de Paris feted the 4th anniversary of Josephine Baker's induction into the Pantheon at Baker's former home, le Beau Chêne.

I arrived at the event early to photograph the grounds (access to the interior of the mansion was not permitted) and learn more about the commemorative site project before the expected crowd arrived. I hadn't visited the property in several years, and I was curious to see how things might have changed.

I was pleased to find that the city has installed a plaque that honors Baker next to the front gate of the mansion, which fairly shone in the sun on this beautiful late autumn day.

Le Beau Chêne
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Josephine Baker plaque
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Large gravel paths have been laid around the property.

Gravel paths
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The large greenhouse that once sat on part of the grounds that has been sold is nestled between the mansion and the fence that marks the edge of the property. (The smaller greenhouse was apparently dismantled.)

Greenhouse
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Several tomato plants inside have seen better days, but new strawberry plants are preparing to bear fruit.

Greenhouse tomatoes
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Greenhouse strawberries
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Chiquita's (Baker's pet cheetah) cage has been moved from near the fence to sit adjacent to the rear of the house, and the refurbished dovecote is presently being used to shelter a motorcycle.

Chiquita's cage
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Dovecote
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A tent sheltered the fliers and panels that presented the sculpture project, which is the brainchild of Alice Fennelly, founder of the Joséphine Baker Commemorative Site. She engaged artist Jane DeDecker to immortalize Baker in bronze "to give Joséphine the permanent visibility she deserves and let her legacy inspire generations to come."

Alice Fennelly
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Brian Scott Bagley, founder of the Musée Joséphine Baker et des Afro-Descendants de Paris, is collaborating on this project. He and Fennelly worked together to organize the tours and the commemorative ceremony that accompanied the light show at the end of the event.

Brian Scott Bagley, Founder of the Musée Joséphine Baker et des Afro-Descendants de Paris
at the information tent
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Model for Josephine Baker Commemorative Sculpture
with brochures and info re: donating to support the commemorative site
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Information panel re: commemorative site and sculptor Jane DeDecker
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As I perused the information provided, pianist John Lander (Opéra de Paris and Opéra de Lyon) warmed up for the ceremony beneath the canopy.

John Lander warms up on piano
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While 77 people signed up for the event online, roughly 350 people came out to tour the grounds and watch the illumination ceremony.

Crowd at front gate
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Fennelly and Bagley were thrilled to welcome Daniel and Ghislaine Valcin to the event. Both of these siblings took the stage with Baker during her last performance run at the Bobino Theater.

Greeting Daniel Valcin
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Ghislaine and Daniel Valcin
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Queues stretched down the block on both sides of the gate as visitors patiently waited their turn to enter and walk the grounds with a guide.

Queue to right of gate
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Queue to left of gate
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First tour group assembled
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Guide distributing fliers
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Off to the tour
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Tour groups
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Waiting for next tour guide
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The commemoration ceremony started at around 5 PM. It took some time to gather everyone who was touring the grounds and move them to the lawn in front of the mansion.

Crowd gathering for ceremony
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As dusk fell, speeches were delivered by

François Gluck, President of the Fondation pour le Vésinet, which is the Joséphine Baker Commemorative Site's principal French non-profit partner,
Alice Fennelly, Founder and Manager of the Joséphine Baker Commemorative Site initiative, and
Didier Guérémy, 4ème adjoint au maire délégué à la vie culturelle, aux conseils de quartier, aux jumelages et aux affaires générales.

All lauded Baker's achievements, including her induction into the Pantheon, and talked about her life as a Vésigondine—a citizen of Le Vésinet.

Then, the front of the mansion was illuminated in blue, white, and red.

Rooms on the upper floors were lit in red and blue inside as well.

Lander played for several minutes before Bagley joined him beneath the canopy. Accompanied by Lander, Bagley sang several tunes - including the iconic "J'ai Deux Amours, Mon Pays et Paris."

The event ended with Bagley thanking everyone for attending and reminding them that funds are being raised to support the Commemorative Site project.

The commemorative site team needs 165K€ to fully realize the project, with the intent to install the sculpture in time for the September 2026 Journées du Patrimoine.

In collaboration with Le Fondation pour Le Vésinet and the French-American Cultural Foundation, it has raised 45% of the project costs to date.

The team is accepting tax-deductible donations in euros and dollars at the following links:

La Fondation pour le Vésinet for donations in Euros: LINK HERE
The French-American Cultural Foundation for donations in US Dollars: LINK HERE

Those making a tax-deductible donation of $5,000/€5,000 or more will receive permanent recognition on a bronze donor plaque affixed to the sculpture site - ensuring their name stands alongside history.

Instead of making a donation online, these donors should contact the respective foundation directly at info@frenchamericacultural.org or contact@fondationpourlevesinet.org.