Josephine Baker becomes first Black woman honoured at the historic Pantheon in France

Baker was a legendary entertainer and a prominent WWII figure (Picture: HARCOURT/AFP via Getty Images)

Josephine Baker will today become the first Black woman honoured by the French Government with a place in the country’s historic Pantheon. 

The legendary entertainer was born in America but became a French citizen in 1937 after moving there when she was 19. 

Following a major petition, Baker will be interred at the Pantheon, a memorial for France’s national heroes, on Tuesday as decided by President Emmanuel Macron. 

Some of France’s most revered historical figures are buried in the Pantheon but Baker’s body will remain in Monaco at the request of her family. However, a coffin containing soils from the US, France and Monaco, places where Baker made her mark, will be deposited inside the monument. 

Baker will not only become the first Black woman to be honoured at the Pantheon, but also the first US-born, and it is hoped the move will signal the country’s work towards ending racism. 

The cabaret dancer and civil rights activist, who was born in Missouri, St Louis in 1906, rose to prominence after moving to France for a job opportunity at the age of 19 – after being twice married and divorced. 

Baker moved to France at the age of 19 to launch her performing career (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

The WWII informant used her performances to mask her spying antics (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

Laurent Kupferman, who started the petition, said according to Sky News: ‘She embodies, before anything, women’s freedom. 

‘She arrives in France in 1925, she’s an emancipated woman, taking her life in her hands, in a country of which she doesn’t even speak the language.’ 

Baker became known for her performances at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, which highlighted the racist stereotypes about African women. 

Many great historical figures are buried at the Pantheon (Picture: Getty Images)

Prince’s Albert II of Monaco takes some soil to add in the urn next to the late French singer (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

The dancer is believed to have begun working as a World War II informant for France after they declared war against Nazi Germany, alongside Britain, in 1939. 

When France were defeated in June 1940, Baker boldly refused to play for the Nazis who occupied Paris and southwestern France, before going on to use her performances as a cover for her spying activities. 

More: Racism

The entertainer’s activism continued into the 1950s when she  fought against American segregation while on tour in her native country, which led to her being targeted by the FBI. She was even banned from her homeland for a decade.

Some critics have questioned the French Government honouring a US-born figure as opposed to someone French-born who fought against racism and colonialism. 

Two other Black figures will also enter the mausoleum: the first Black colonial governor in French Africa, Felix Eboué, and famed writer Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Man In The Iron Mask.

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