Christian Cailleaux was born in La Garenne-Colombes in the Parisian suburbs. He studied Literature and Philosophy and then attended the National School of Art in Cergy. He travelled through Africa after his studies, and held drawing workshops in several Cultural Centers of the Alliance Française in over fifteen African countries. Africa was also the setting for his first published comics work, the two books about 'Arthur Blanc-Nègre', that were written by Bernard Sallé (Dargaud, 1993-1994). He established himself as an allround author with his next two books, 'Haëllifa' (1997) and 'Harmattan - Le Vent des Fous' (1998), both at Dargaud.