Cover image: Louisiana State University students at United Youth International
© Entrée to Black Paris

In Barbès, a neighborhood on the southern edge of Paris' 18th arrondissement, the space formerly occupied by the iconic Tati discount department store has been revitalized by an experimental cultural center called Union de la Jeunesse International, or United Youth International (UYI).

Rooftop of Tati discount department store
18 August 2015
Photo by Ketounette
Source: Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA 4.0

Operating in a unique, ~6,000 square meter space, UYI offers a wide variety of events and activities that include film screenings, art exhibitions, and crafts workshops. It is designed to be an extension of the public space of this corner of the 18th arrondissement, providing visitors with opportunities to listen, discuss, read or simply meander through the facility.

Through 29 June 2025, UYI is featuring ready-to-wear clothing created by independent designers through a project called Le Grand Magasin Ephémère (The Great Pop-up Store).

I visited the center last week, when I took students from Louisiana State University on ETBP's Spirit of Africa walking tour.  We were graciously welcomed inside and invited to get some refreshment at the buvette prior to taking a tour of the space.

Ordering soft drinks at the buvette
© Entrée to Black Paris

The students, Professor Annemarie Galeucia, and I explored the expansive atrium, which houses a reading area, café, turntable and sound equipment, and magazine outlet (Kidpresse.com) while sipping bissap, iced lattes made with oat milk, and other soft drinks.

Enjoying the atrium
© Entrée to Black Paris

Card deck and bowl of snacks on table in atrium
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LSU student at turntable in atrium
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Magazines for sale
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When we were ready, a young man named Kevin took us into the ground floor fashion boutique. 

Text on the wall to the left of the entrance of the boutique announces a federation of brands, entities, and independent designers that support and encourage international youth.

Wall next to entrance to ground floor boutique
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Inside, clothing by independent designers and Air Jordan sneakers were available for purchase.

Though shy about his English language ability, Kevin provided details about each of the areas we visited that day. 

Kevin in ground floor clothing boutique
© Entrée to Black Paris

As we mounted the stairs to the first floor (second floor for U.S. residents), I was surprised to see a photo of Loïs Mailou Jones painting in her 1937-38 Montparnasse studio in Paris.  When I expressed my excitement about the image, Kevin told me he didn't know who Jones was and thanked me for enlightening him about her significance in the history of African American expatriation in Paris.

Photo of Loïs Mailou Jones in stairwell
© Entrée to Black Paris

On the first floor, we saw an exhibition called Project DEM.  It consisted of original comic strip art illustrated and scripted by twin sisters Salamat Kanzal-Noor and Salamat Kanzal-Eman, respectively. 

Project DEM exhibition
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Kevin and LSU students in exhibition space
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We completed our tour by visiting a retail space called Matières Premières on the second floor (third floor for U.S. residents), where more clothing, jewelry, and other accessories were on display.

Entrance to Matières Premières
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LSU students (foreground) and Professor Annemarie Galeucia at Matières Premières
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Display rack for designs
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Fashion accessories and other merchandise at Matières Premières
© Entrée to Black Paris

As we descended the stairs to get back to the ground floor, I stopped to read the center's statement of purpose on the wall at the bottom of the staircase:

"Our planet Earth is home to 7.753 billion human beings, representing as many stories, cultures, and experiences that span the globe. Here, we share these human experiences. United Youth International is an experimental cultural center that welcomes and tells our unique stories. Viewed together, they allow us to redefine the world's center of gravity."

UYI statement of purpose
© Entrée to Black Paris

UYI was founded by Youssouf Fofana, creative director of the fashion brand Maison Château Rouge, in 2022.  A French man of Senegalese origin, he remembers shopping at Tati as a boy.  

After finding success for Maison Château Rouge through collaborations with national and international brands such as Monoprix, Merci, and Nike, Fofana signed on with the owner of the Tati building in November 2021 to organize his first pop-up cultural center in the space.  He credits his collaboration with the Jordan Brand on the launch of Air Jordan 2 and a ready-to-wear clothing line for paving the way to the establishment of UYI.

Last summer, in partnership with the Jordan Brand, Fofana transformed the building into the venue for the ephemeral District 23 project that was launched in tandem with the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.  Offerings included workshops on sewing, dyeing, design, and customization of apparel, basketball tournaments at the nearby Square Léon and other outdoor spaces, and an exhibition entitled Diaspora Renaissance, which featured the works of 23 contemporary visual artists from the African diaspora, Asia, and Latin America. 

Fofana collaborated with Foot Locker on the sporting activities and with Isimeme "Easy" Otabor of the Anthony Gallery in Chicago on the art exhibition.

Almost a year after the closure of the Olympic Games and Project 23, UYI continues to offer a robust line-up of activities for youth from the neighborhood and across the city.  Programming changes every two to three weeks.

For more information about the center (in French), click HERE.

United Youth International (Union de la Jeunesse Internationale)
2, bd Marguerite de Rochechouart
75018 Paris
Metro: Barbès-Rochechouart (Lines 2 and 4)
Opening hours (through June 29, 2025): Wednesday - Saturday from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM; Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM