»The reproduction of colonial perspectives, in which black people can be viewed as exotic objects, as non- or sub-humans in perfect harmony with the animal world, in an apparently timeless rural setting suited to attracting middle-of-the road German tourists, can hardly be regarded as a cultural encounter among equals.« Peggy Piesche, Nicola Lauré al-Samarai, Tahir Della, Jasmin Eding, 2005
EXHIBITIONS
Between 1870 and 1930 the business of exhibiting exotic specimens of humanity boomed. Millions of curious spectators gaped at non-Europeans at funfairs, in amusement parks, in variety shows and zoological gardens. Ostensibly these shows, also called »ethnological exhibits,« had nothing in common with colonialism, as the persons so employed were usually given contracts. Nevertheless these performances served to justify colonial rule, in that the employees were degraded to the status of objects and, through racist methods of portrayal, made to appear inferior to white civilization. However, the performers raised objections about their treatment. There were repeated complaints about degrading treatment by the impresarios. In 1897, for example, a group of Samoans protested against the way they were being exhibited at the Passage Panopticum in Berlin, and a part of the group walked out and went underground.
The construct of »foreignness,« on which these exhibitions were based, can be found to this day in TV series, documentaries, travel and adventure films, not to mention the tourist industry.
Moreover, in recent years modernized versions of these exhibitions, meant to familiarize the public with »African culture,« have enjoyed renewed popularity. Under the title »African Village,« Augsburg Zoo produced an »African Festival« in 2005, despite widespread criticism from Germany’s black community. Unperturbed by the numerous national and international protests against the Augsburg event, the zoo in Krefeld organized an »Africa Day« in 2009, and its counterpart in Eberswalde invited the public to an »African Night« in 2011.