Catalog Level
Items (Cataloging Focus)

Title Proper/Title Text
Villaggio Somalo - Kermesse Orientale

Date of Publication/Creation Date
1911 ca.

Numbering/Creation Numbers
11 9066

Inscription Language
Italian (Language)

Related Built Environment Objects

• "Kermesse Orientale"
• Somalia

Descriptive Note Text

This black-and-white photo postcard documents the World's Fairs' practice of displaying non-European people to allow Europeans a glimpse of "primitive" living as a form of public entertainment. Paid "troupes" of villagers from Africa or India traveled from one exposition to the next. They typically acted out a role, wore "native" garb, and performed traditional tasks such as weaving, carving wood, dancing, etc. The organisers of these "human zoos" played an important part in the development of modern racism.

Current Repository/Geographic Location
Cristina Della Coletta Private Collection (San Diego, USA)

Current Repository Numbers
CDC-PC-OFES-0005