Members of the German Africa Show (Deutsche Afrika-Schau), circa 1937 in Germany. Though these early shows were exploitative by nature, artists originally had the ability to shape their own performances and how they were represented. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, this agency began to disappear. During the Nazi era, working in such shows was an increasingly propaganda-driven, demoralizing, and unpleasant experience.
Known persons in the photograph from left to right: Josef Boholle is the furthest left. Next to Josef is his son Rudolf Boholle, wearing white gloves and a long coat. The woman in the center and looking at the camera is Josy Bachert (née Allen). The man with the flat cap, two to the right of Josy is Deska Garber. The woman to the right of him is Juliette Hillerkus, and the man with his hands in his pockets is Sam Dibonge Jr. Sam and the Garber siblings performed together in the Afrika-Schau as an acrobatic troupe called the 5 Bosambos.
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