(MUSIC AND THEATRE--CIRCUS.) BROWN, TOM, DIRECTOR. The Dahomey Amazon Corps, Wild Fighting Women of Dahomey. Program: single 4to leaf, folded to form four pages; some wear and fading; archival paper repair to the fold; [together with] an albumen photograph of the troupe, 3-1/2 x 5-3/8 inches, on the original mount. Liverpool & Berlin, circa 1893-1900
In the wake of Emancipation in the West Indies and the United States, there began a period of public fascination with the 'Africans' that had so recently been field slaves and house servants. Oddities, like Blind Tom, or Millie Christine had set an earlier precedent, and other music-related acts soon followed in the post Civil War period with groups like the Fisk Jubilee Singers. While in England, France, Germany and the United States there began to appear single acts and groups of 'Africans' in a variety of venues, some more bizarre than others. An exhibit of Bosjesmans, Boshies-Men or Bushmen appeared around mid century and was quite successful. Later, there was an entire 'Dahomean Village' transplanted to the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. Other ambitious promoters like P.T. Barnum created single acts like 'Zip' the 'What is It.' As regards the present lot; there really was a tradition of fierce fighting women from Dahomey, but the 'Dahomey Warriors,' were nothing more warrior-like than a dance troupe.
