The concept of “human zoos,” where people were exhibited as spectacles for the entertainment and curiosity of European and Western audiences, is one of the most grotesque examples of racism and dehumanization in modern history. These exhibitions showcased individuals—primarily from African, Indigenous, and other colonized communities—as living proof of so-called “savage” or “primitive” cultures, often juxtaposed against Western “civilization.”

Origins and Purpose

Human zoos were popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the height of European imperialism and colonial expansion. These exhibitions sought to:

• Justify colonization by presenting non-European peoples as inferior and in need of Western “civilization.”
• Reinforce racist ideologies by promoting pseudo-scientific theories of racial hierarchies.
• Entertain audiences by objectifying and exoticizing people of different cultures.

Countries Involved

The image lists several countries where human zoos were documented. Below are specific examples:

1. Belgium: The infamous 1958 World Expo in Brussels displayed a “Congolese Village,” where Africans were forced to perform as though living in “authentic” conditions, enduring degrading treatment under the guise of education.

2. Britain: During the Victorian era, “ethnographic exhibitions” showcased people from Africa, India, and the Pacific Islands. The 19th-century exhibitions at London’s Crystal Palace treated human beings as exotic curiosities.

3. France: Paris was a central hub for human zoos, hosting multiple “ethnological exhibitions” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Africans from French colonies were displayed at the Jardin d’Acclimatation and other venues to reinforce colonial propaganda.

4. Germany: Carl Hagenbeck, a prominent zoo owner, popularized “ethnological exhibitions” in Europe. In Berlin, Leipzig, and Hamburg, African and Indigenous people were caged and displayed alongside animals.

5. Austria: In Vienna, exhibitions of African and Indigenous people were part of public fairs, often promoted as “anthropological studies” but rooted in racist stereotypes.

6. Spain: Spain’s colonial endeavors were reflected in exhibitions that featured Indigenous people from its territories in Latin America and Africa, presented as “exotic savages” to European audiences.

7. USA: Ota Benga’s tragic story in 1906 at the Bronx Zoo is perhaps the most infamous example in the U.S., but “ethnological villages” featuring Native Americans and Africans were also common at world fairs.

8. Japan: Japan’s colonial exhibitions included human zoos featuring people from Okinawa, Taiwan, and Korea, as well as other territories under Japanese rule.

9. Norway: At the 1914 Jubilee Exhibition in Oslo, a “Congo Village” displayed African people in degrading conditions, with visitors encouraged to observe their “primitive” way of life.

10. Portugal: Portugal showcased human zoos during colonial fairs, displaying people from Angola, Mozambique, and other colonies to emphasize their empire’s reach and justify colonial rule.

11. Switzerland: Similar to other European nations, Switzerland held colonial exhibitions that included human zoos, often as part of traveling fairs promoting racial hierarchies.

12. Italy: During its colonial occupation of Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, Italy staged exhibitions where Africans were presented as “uncivilized” to support its imperial ambitions.

13. Denmark: Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens hosted human zoos, featuring people from Greenland and Africa, reinforcing Denmark’s role in colonial exploitation.

14. Netherlands: Dutch exhibitions often included people from Indonesia and Suriname, emphasizing their subjugation under Dutch colonial rule.

The African Connection

For people of African descent, the practice of human zoos was a brutal reminder of their commodification under slavery and colonization. Many of those displayed in these exhibitions were taken from Africa or African diasporic communities, reinforcing stereotypes that still influence global perceptions of Black identity today. These exhibitions reduced Africans to objects of mockery and stripped them of their humanity in the public eye.

Legacy and Impact

1. Dehumanization and Trauma: The exhibitions perpetuated harmful stereotypes of Africans as “savages” and “uncivilized,” laying the groundwork for systemic racism that persists today.
2. Cultural Theft: Human zoos often presented a distorted version of African traditions, reducing them to caricatures and stripping their cultural richness.
3. Ignorance of Contributions: While Africans contributed immeasurably to global civilization through art, science, and resilience, these exhibitions portrayed them as “inferior,” erasing their achievements.

A Call to Action for People of African Descent

Understanding the history of human zoos is crucial for people of African descent as it:

• Reinforces the importance of reclaiming narratives that were stolen or distorted.
• Highlights the resilience and dignity of those who endured such dehumanization.
• Calls for accountability from nations and institutions that benefited from these practices, through education, reparations, and cultural recognition.

The practice of human zoos reflects one of the darkest chapters of global history, serving as a stark reminder of the enduring legacy of racism.

For people of African descent, acknowledging this history is essential in the fight for justice, dignity, and the dismantling of systems that perpetuate inequality. It is a call to never forget and to strive for a future where such atrocities are unimaginable.