This photograph shows the House of French Western Africa 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 design of the West African Pavilion was modelled after native African architecture and had native Africans dressed in traditional attire roaming the premises to create a sense of authenticity. The Pavilion was also popular with visitors as they were allowed to sample native African food. The Exposition also saw the participation of various colonial powers such as Britain, Portugal and the United States of America. Most exhibition pavilions showcased native architecture and indigenous culture from various Asian and African colonies, as well as efforts by the colonialists to improve the lives of the colonised peoples in an attempt to justify and 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.
