unbelievable.we are in 2005.

[hs]

African culture exhibition in Germany (Augsburg) takes place in the zoo. Note: this takes place in 2005!



GERMAN ZOO SCANDAL

'African Village' Accused of Putting Humans on Display

By Charles Hawley

It was supposed to be an innocent celebration of African culture -- but it has turned into a public relations disaster for the southern German town of Augsburg. The town's "African Village" festival this weekend is located in the city zoo. But how racist can you get, critics are asking?
Medhat Abdelati was completely blindsided by the media blitz and public outrage. The Egyptian head of the German event-planning company maxVita GmbH has thrown numerous African festivals in recent years in both Vienna, Austria and Munich, Germany, and had come to think of himself as a bit of an expert in such celebrations of Dark Continent culture. Why should his new project turn out any differently?

He should have known better. This time around, his festival, which opens on Thursday and is scheduled to continue throughout the weekend, has turned into an ostrich-sized international egg on the face of the southern German town of Augsburg. Why? The "African Village" event is innocuous enough -- it brings together food stands, traditional crafts, basket weavers and hair braiders for the kids. The problem this time, is that is being held, of all places, in the heart of the Augsburg Zoo. Grass huts and "African" culture are nestled between the monkey cage and the Savannah exhibit -- an uncomfortable juxtaposition for many.

"If I had known that there was going to be this much attention and critique, then I would never have done it," Abdelati, who has received letters threatening that if the festival isn't stopped, the zoo will be burnt down, says. "We are not putting people into a zoo exhibit. We aren't doing anything wrong here."

Worldwide horror

As has become increasingly clear in recent weeks, Abdelati is decidedly in the minority with his view. Anti-discrimination groups across Germany -- and indeed, across the world -- have mobilized against what they see as blatant racism and appalling cultural insensitivity. On Thursday, dozens of protesters gathered outside the zoo gates carrying posters and passing out handbills in an effort to prevent zoo-goers from entering. And in cyberspace, anti-racism forums are filled with comments such as "I am speechless..." or "For me, a zoo is associated with animals. Period." What had been a sprinkling of media interest over the past two weeks has swelled into a monsoon-esque downpour.
The problem, as most critics point out, is not that Augsburg is hosting an African cultural festival. Rather, its location inside a zoo, they say, recalls Germany's and Europe's colonialist past -- and the not uncommon practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries of exhibiting African natives in zoos or circuses. Furthermore, such a setting encourages visitors to see Africans as a display and emphasizes their "otherness."

"It's not the Africa festival per se that is the problem," says Tahir Diller, head of the Initiative for Black People in Germany and a co-organizer of Thursday's protest in Augsburg. "Rather, the whole package presents an image of Africans that one knows from the past. The 19th century displays of Africans didn't look all that different from what is going on here in Augsburg today."

And yet, while nobody is willing to accuse the festival organizers and zoo administrators of malicious intent, they are, says Norbert Finzsch, provost of the University of Cologne and expert in racism and discrimination, guilty of profound cultural insensitivity. The historian is currently researching images of Africans used on 19th and early 20th century postcards in Germany. "When I looked at the zoo Web site and the promotional poster, there was the whole barrage of images that were used during the 19th century," he says. "Huts and animals and you name it."

Europeans on display in Togo?

He feels that the Augsburg zoo has fallen squarely into the trap of perpetuating modern-day stereotypes and subliminal racism.

"No Europeans can imagine going to Togo and washing their car or watching TV as part of an exhibit for the people of Togo to visit," Finzsch says. "They don't have this feeling of being exotic. But the view in Germany is that Africans live in grass huts and dance all the time."

Augsburg Zoo director Barbara Jantschke hasn't done herself any favors in her somewhat clumsy attempts to fend off the barrage of condemnation. In one effort to justify the festival, she commented that one of the organizers was "born in Africa and has black skin." Likewise, in a letter penned recently in response to mounting criticism, she wrote, "you can be sure that this wasn't a mistake in planning. I think the Augsburg zoo is exactly the right place to communicate an atmosphere of the exotic."

The zoo is expecting up to 20,000 visitors during this weekend. And on Thursday, according to event-planner Abdelati, the zoo was full of families enjoying the spring sun and the good food on offer from the various stands. It was also, he says, jam packed with reporters and photographers. And he was not alone in being taken aback by the attention.

"I feel like a number of people have misunderstood the whole thing," said his maxVita colleague Anja Eder. "It's not like we are trying to exhibit people in the middle of the zoo. It's more about music and children's stories and the like. It's really just a completely normal market."


service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,359799,00.html

[Wadaad]

It seems this scandal is more a product of stupidity rather than racism.

Augsburg Zoo director Barbara Jantschke hasn't done herself any favors in her somewhat clumsy attempts to fend off the barrage of condemnation. In one effort to justify the festival, she commented that one of the organizers was "born in Africa and has black skin." Likewise, in a letter penned recently in response to mounting criticism, she wrote, "you can be sure that this wasn't a mistake in planning. I think the Augsburg zoo is exactly the right place to communicate an atmosphere of the exotic."

Thats as idiotic a response as it can get...I'm not too bothered, the citizens of Augsburg should be though...since their cultural events are hosted by incompetents

[mike2]

While they should have seen this coming, I find nothing racist about putting an exhibit about tribal African living and culture in a zoo with animals. That would heighten the mood, the feeling of being out in a wild place. What do most people think of when they think of sub-Saharan Africa? GIRAFFES, ELEPHANTS, LIONS, SAVANNAH, WILDERNESS, JUNGLE, HEAT, BLACK AFRICAN NATIVES WHO ARE AT HARMONY WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

I don't think there is any racist underpinning to that kind of otherness, that kind of curiosity for life in the dark continent. I think it's like a safari. I wish people would stop trying to elevate tribal African culture to something more than it is and accept that it will never compare to European achievements because it shouldn't have to and was never meant to. It is it's own thing and these wanton feelings of inferiority must cease. I believe in equality, but not political correctness.

That said, the zoo organizers shouldn't have held it in a zoo because they should have seen such allegations coming. Not to mention it presents an incorrect view of sub-Saharan Africa as a purely tribal and wild continent, which isn't true.

I find tribal culture fascinating perhaps because it isn't respected. You won't find chapters in history books about Native American tribes or black African tribes because they had little impact on history by themselves. Instead they are all lumped together. But even so, they are still interesting.

[Wadaad]

I respectfully disagree Mike...its absolutelty ignorant and racist to place a CULTURAL FESTIVAL inside a ZOO! I dont know if its the PC in me to say this, but I've been taught zoos = animals, not people.

Even the most exotic deepest darkest parts of Africa doesnt have giraffes, emus and people living side by side in some kind of primitive utopian safari-land

[mike2]

wadaad said:

Even the most exotic deepest darkest parts of Africa doesnt have giraffes, emus and people living side by side in some kind of primitive utopian safari-land

I know, but that's what Africa is to most people. The wild. It's not necessarily the case, but it is exciting and they probably thought they'd get more people to come if it was in an environment full of animals and wildlife. It was the wrong thing to do, but I highly doubt there were any racist motivations. Unless they were subconscious.

[hs]

mike2 said:

wadaad said:

Even the most exotic deepest darkest parts of Africa doesnt have giraffes, emus and people living side by side in some kind of primitive utopian safari-land

I know, but that's what Africa is to most people. The wild. It's not necessarily the case, but it is exciting and they probably thought they'd get more people to come if it was in an environment full of animals and wildlife. It was the wrong thing to do, but I highly doubt there were any racist motivations. Unless they were subconscious.

All right, what african nations should do then is to replicate concentration camps, gas chambers, and display a German Cultural Exhibition right in there, cause thats what the average person associates modern Germany with. This is what the line of reasoning above leads too... Or maybe they should place an European Cultural Exhibition between bears and wolves, also in the zoo.

If the intention was to show the environment where africans live then they should have built a special replica or something. To exhibit human culture in the zoo, amongst wild animals, is wrong.

Cause if one admits africans to be animals, just as all other animals, then the exhibitors should be showns as animals too, and very wild ones, who only a few decades ago caused the deaths of millions and millions of innocent people (unprecedented mass killings and destruction), and who had the most bizarre idea of carrying executions in an industrialised fashion.

[mike2]

A concentration camp and wild animals are not the same thing. I was under the impression that they did build special replicas for this. If they just carted away the blacks there without making anything of it, then yes, it was wrong. But that's not the impression I got from the article.

hs said:

The exhibitors are animals too, and wild ones, who only a few decades ago caused the deaths of millions and millions of innocent people, and who had the most bizarre idea of carrying executions in an industrialised fashion. Thats what they should be thinking about... the true animals...

What the hell are you talking about?

[hs]

mike2 said:

A concentration camp and wild animals are not the same thing.

When one thinks about Germany, then concentration camps come to mind quickly. They are a bizarre international attraction. Lots of people from all over the world visit them.
Wild african animals attract lots of tourists in Africa as well.

[mike2]

Yes, but there is a huge difference there. Concentration camps and Nazis are never positive things. When I think of Germany, I think of Germanic barbarians in leather sacking Rome, but that's just me.

On the other hand, people love African animals and wildlife.

Both are silly stereotypes, but one is infinitely more acceptable than the other because there is no inherent negative connotation, only a misconception of Africa being all about safaris and tropical jungle wilderness.

[Wadaad]

Loving African animals and wildlife does not equate with placing Africans in zoos though lol

[mike2]

wadaad said:

Loving African animals and wildlife does not equate with placing Africans in zoos though lol

True, but my point is I don't think their being placed there was driven by racism. Just a misconception or gimmick to get more people to come. I'm tired of people pulling the friggin' race card everytime something unfortunate happens.

[Wadaad]

Well, that as well as maybe the event organizer's Egyptian background will make him unaware of the unspoken laws of western PC'ness..but still the stereotype is based on the condescending (but not bad) idea that African villagers are all about shacking it up with timon and pumba, or whatever...a similar patronizing steroertype that isnt based on negativity is "Irish are heavy, jolly drinkers" imagine making an Irish cultural festival right smack in a pub with "Irish" stand ins getting all drunk and crazy? Im sure that festival will get the tourists, and maybe the intentions would be just as innocent...but wouldnt it be insulting to the Irish, racially or otherwise?

[mike2]

wadaad said:

Well, that as well as maybe the event organizer's Egyptian background will make him unaware of the unspoken laws of western PC'ness..but still the stereotype is based on the condescending (but not bad) idea that African villagers are all about shacking it up with timon and pumba, or whatever...a similar patronizing steroertype that isnt based on negativity is "Irish are heavy, jolly drinkers" imagine making an Irish cultural festival right smack in a pub with "Irish" stand ins getting all drunk and crazy? Im sure that festival will get the tourists, and maybe the intentions would be just as innocent...but wouldnt it be insulting to the Irish, racially or otherwise?

Indeed, it is offensive and unfair, but I would hardly call it racism. Insensitive cultural stereotyping? Most definitely, but not race-related.

hs said:

If im not wrong, I remember you referring to broad nosed central africans 'as almost gorilla looking'.

That's because Paleonegrids are usually very gorilla-like or bear-like, just as Australian aborigines are thick-skulled and primitive-looking. There's really no other way to describe them in such few words. Frankly, I think they're both pretty cool. I'd love to walk around as an aborigine or a central African. Very masculine and threatening.

hs said:

Well, orangotangos are ruddy. Monkeys (gorillas included) are hairy. Chimps are white skinned...

True, you can compare most whites to monkeys all you like, because frankly, I would agree. Personally I think white girls who put blush on their cheeks look like clowns and those thin, straw-headed blonde models look like scarecrows. Racial types have always served stereotypical roles. In Greek times, the bearded Alpine type of Socrates was looked upon as evil and comical and satyr-like.

So you can't bait me. I call it like I see it. I'm not afraid to offend anyone. Not even myself. I approach the Dinaric type more than anything else, so I look like Dracula.

[Ponto Hardbottle]

What I find about this discussion is the wholesale acceptance that the Africans involved in the recreation of an African village or whatever it is are Black and Negroid. It says a lot about how you people think. What if it was full of Berter's white skinned Berbers or a bunch of high ranking Malagasy with their Malay faces and yellow brown skin or Bushmen with wrinkled faces and peppercorn hair or even the organiser's people looking like fellahin.
Come on, admit it. Your responses have been racist and demeaning to Africans who are not black, Negroid. What an Afrocentrist response. Sorry, that is how I see it.

[Wadaad]

^^ weird nonsense