This photograph shows one of the African Pavilions along the Avenue of French Colonies during the 1931 Exposition Colonial de Paris, an international exhibition held in Paris over a period of six months. The Pavilion, a huge wooden structure with a thatched roof was designed by French architects, and housed numerous displays which showcased historical dioramas narrating the process of the French colonial (or ‘civilising’) mission in Africa. Africans within the exhibition grounds were also not allowed to don European clothing to lend authenticity to the displays. Apart from the French, the British, Portuguese and Americans, among others, also participated on the exhibition. Most pavilions showcased indigenous culture from the various Asian and African colonies, as well as efforts by the colonialists to improve the lives of the colonised peoples in an attempt to glorify colonialism. This photograph is part of an album on the Exposition, and is a presentation copy signed by the official exhibition photographer, Marcel Braun.
