Babakar Diop

Babakar Diop was a character in the first part of Lupin. He is portrayed by Fargass Assandé.

He was Assane Diop's father. Originally from Senegal, Babakar was employed as a chauffeur for Hubert Pellegrini. When a diamond necklace that had originally belonged to Marie-Antoinette was stolen from Pellegrini's safe, Babakar was blamed for the crime and incarcerated. In prison, he committed suicide.

Part 1
One day in 1995, while walking with Assane, Babakar stumbles upon Anne Pellegrini, the husband of Hubert Pellegrini, a wealthy businessman who has recently employed him as a driver. Anne is having difficulties starting her car, and although initially somewhat fearful of Babakar and Assane, she allows them to examine the vehicle after Babakar explains who they are. Anne asks Assane several questions, including where he and Babakar came from. Eventually Babakar is able to fix Anne’s car and offers to drive her home; Anne tells Assane that Babakar is a gentleman.

While Babakar’s working relationship with Anne is pleasant, Hubert Pellegrini often berates him in an insulting manner. To apologize for her husband’s behavior, Anne allows Babakar to take a book from the Pellegrinis’ extensive library to give to Assane for his birthday. Babakar’s choice is a collection of stories about the famed gentleman burglar Arsène Lupin.

Later, Babakar is brought into Pellegrini’s study, where a necklace, originally belonging to Marie-Antoinette, has gone missing from a safe. Pellegrini accuses Babakar of stealing it, claiming that his fingerprints are on the safe; although Babakar protests his innocence and begs Anne for help, none is forthcoming. Later, after he has been brought to the police station, Anne convinces Babakar to sign a confession to the theft, telling him that it will reduce his sentence. However, the judge is strict, and gives Babakar a maximum sentence.

While in prison, Babakar prepares a letter for Assane in which he appears to acknowledge his guilt. However, he purposely misspells several words, and includes the name of another inmate, to whom he had entrusted a book carrying a coded message blaming Anne for framing him. Aware of Assane’s intelligence, Babakar believes that his son will be able to figure out both messages.

However, one day, when Babakar is to be visited by Assane, the guards find him hanging from a noose in his cell, dead by an apparent suicide.

Appearances

 * Part One


 * Chapter 1
 * Chapter 2

Trivia

 * Babakar appears to have been inspired by both of Arsène Lupin's parents. In the original stories, Lupin's mother, Henriette d'Andrésy, was mistreated by a wealthy family that employed her and falsely accused by them of stealing a necklace, while his father, Theomneste Lupin, died in prison.