Dr Herzberger-Fofana awarded German city’s highest honour

The city of Erlangen has bestowed its highest civic honour on Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, naming her an Honorary Citizen (Ehrenbürgerin) — a rare and distinguished recognition reserved for individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the city and society at large.

The Afro-German politician “has made a lasting impact on the development of Erlangen and has promoted the well-being of its citizens in an exceptional way,” said the Erlangen City Council, under the chairmanship of Mayor Florian Janik, in the official statement announcing the award.

Dr Herzberger-Fofana becomes the second woman in Erlangen’s history to be named an honorary citizen, following Dina Radkte in 2016. Since 1822, this city’s highest distinction has been awarded to 53 men and only two women. According to the city’s statutes, no more than five living individuals may hold the honorary citizenship at any given time.

The honour, to be formally conferred at a ceremonial city council event this autumn, recognises a life dedicated to equality, intercultural dialogue and democratic values. It also marks a milestone not just for Erlangen but for Germany and Europe as a whole.

As the first Black woman to represent Germany in the European Parliament, Dr Herzberger-Fofana is a trailblazer— a voice for the marginalised and a builder of bridges between continents, cultures and communities. Born in Bamako, Mali, and raised in Dakar, Senegal, she served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2024.

A scholar of literature educated at the Sorbonne (Paris), as well as in Munich and Trier, Dr Herzberger-Fofana holds a doctorate and has taught at several German universities, including Trier, Bayreuth and Erlangen-Nuremberg. She has published extensively on human rights, politics and the history of the Black diaspora. Her life journey reflects a unique blend of African heritage and European experience — an intercontinental perspective that gives her public service both insight and depth.

Scholar, advocate, politician and pan-African voice for unity and justice, she has left an indelible mark on the European stage as a tireless defender of human rights and dignity. Despite her international stature, her roots remain firmly planted in Erlangen — the Franconian city she has called home for decades. There, she launched her political career as a city councillor, serving from 2005 to 2019. During this time, she championed diversity, inclusion and intercultural understanding, helping shape Erlangen into a more open and tolerant community.

Her election to the European Parliament under the banner of the German Green Party was a moment of pride —not only for Erlangen, but for Black communities across Europe. In Brussels and Strasbourg, she consistently advocated for migrant rights, anti-discrimination legislation and equitable development partnerships between Europe and Africa.

Perhaps Dr Herzberger-Fofana’s most enduring legacy lies in her ability to inspire. For young African women in Germany and beyond, she stands as a beacon — proof that leadership, excellence, and recognition transcend race, gender, and origin.

The honorary citizenship now conferred upon her is more than a personal accolade. It is a symbol of changing times — a growing recognition of the value of diverse voices in shaping Germany’s future. It signals that the stories of African migrants, too often overlooked, are becoming an integral part of Europe’s evolving narrative.

In honouring Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Erlangen has celebrated not only a remarkable citizen but a powerful symbol of courage, intellect and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Femi Awoniyi

READ ALSO Stop Violence against Women! by Dr Herzberger-Fofana, MEP