Somalis were displayed as zoo animals in 1907 Dublin exhibition

[Holac]

 

Thanks to Neil Moxham for sending us this fantastic image, which we had to share here.

 

In a recent article on legendary Dublin prankster The Bird Flanagan, his supposed escapades at the 1907 International Exhibition in Herbert Park were discussed. It was said that The Bird stole a child from an exhibition, with Flann O’Brien later recounting that “The Bird stole the baby of the wild man of Borneo from the latters straw house or tent and smuggled it into the snug of a pub in Ballsbridge”, while Ulick O’Connor claimed he “returned it to the French pavilion, as a gesture against the decline in the French birth-rate.”

 

In reality, it was a Somalian Village at the International Exhibition. The International Exhibition was an incredible spectacle, which ssentially brought the world to Dublin, with tents and exhibitions from all over the world. In his book The Biggest Show in Town: Record Of The International Exhibition, Dublin 1907, Ken Finlay dug deep on the exhibition using primary sources from the time. One of those sources tells us of the Somali village, described thus:

 

A party of Somalis has been imported from British Somaliland, which is situated in the north-east of Africa. This village has been erected to represent the huts in which the natives live in their country. A schoolroom has also been built in which Somali children will be thought their lessons. Somalis are a nomadic race, and live chiefly by the rearing of herds and goats and sheep. They are Mohammedians by religion.

 

John Cavendish has written about this peculiar spectacle, noting that:

 

This stand proved to be of huge interest to the 2,751,113 visitors in all during the six months that the exhibition lasted. So much so, that it became the most profitable stand, earning £9,601 in sales of its pottery and other native goods.

 

You can only imagine how distressing the situation must have been for younger members of the community who were essentially put on exhibition for Dubliners to gawk at. This newspaper report from 14 May 1907 shows that rumours of ill-health existed during the period of the International Exhibition for example:

 

[Holac]

The legacy of colonialism still haunts us.

[DoctorKenney]

The arrogance of the White Man in the 20th century was absolutely unbelievable.

 

I'm actually in shock

[Alpha Blondy]

they were probably Puntlanders. i mean look at them.

 

as people, they're no strangers to attention seeking antics, and making some small change in the process. disgusting.

[burahadeer]

and today...!!!...Look at this horrible scene.

Swedish cultural minister cutting Niga cake!

[Safferz]

Germany too, and elsewhere. International exhibitions in Europe included imperial displays to show everyday Europeans what their distant empires looked like, so "natives" were included too. But there were actual, permanent "human zoos" as well, notably Carl Hagenbeck's zoos in Germany (he's considered the father of the modern zoo, but not everyone is aware that his zoos included the regular display of Africans).

 

Actually if you look closely at a lot of old images of Somalis from pre-WWI, they seem to be staged photos, props and all. Fortunately these ones happen to indicate where they were taken, but many do not.

 

[Khayr]

<cite>

@DoctorKenney

said:</cite>

The arrogance of the White Man in the 20th century was absolutely unbelievable.

 

I'm actually in shock

 

Well that arrogance hasn't changed. What has changed is how they mask that arrogance by erecting pseudo bill of rights and racial equality leglislations and yet they still continue to hoard most of the wealth and are still the "masters" in all senses of the word.

[xabad]

<cite>

@Khayr

said:</cite>

Well that arrogance hasn't changed. What has changed is how they mask that arrogance by erecting pseudo bill of rights and racial equality leglislations and yet they still continue to

hoard most of the wealth and are still the "masters" in all senses of the word

.

 

I also hear the same thing about Zionists. which is which ?

we also hear they are in debt and wealth has moved to china, india and the rest of asia. people make up your minds