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Somali Village: Bradford's Colonial Past Unearthed
9 May
Summary
- A 1904 exhibition featured 57 Somalis cooking, weaving, and dancing.
- The popular display funded Bradford's civic art collection for decades.
- The exhibition critically examines empire's impact on Bradford's wealth.
In 1904, Bradford's Great Exhibition hosted a popular display of 57 Somali men, women, and children, who cooked, weaved, and danced for visitors. This exhibition, drawing over 350,000 visitors, became one of the event's most profitable attractions.
The display funded Bradford's civic art collection for decades, highlighting Yorkshire's often untold involvement in colonial wealth generation. Curators now critically examine this event, moving beyond the 'human zoo' label to understand recruitment, labor, and negotiation.
Members of the Somali troupe negotiated contracts and sold crafts, and some staged a protest over inadequate compensation after a fire. While some returned home, others continued touring in Europe and North America.
The current exhibition explores how colonialism shaped Bradford's institutions and wealth, centering Somali experiences and resistance. It also investigates how postcards and photography contributed to the 'white gaze' of the era.
Artifacts like season tickets, badges, and Somali crafts are displayed alongside archaeological finds. The exhibition also highlights Halimo Abdi Badal and Khadija Yorkshire, significant figures in Bradford's early Muslim community.
