Bradford exhibition revisits 1904 Somali display to confront colonial legacy

A forthcoming exhibition at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford will revisit the city's 1904 Great Exhibition, which controversially displayed 57 Somali men, women and children as a living spectacle for Edwardian audiences. The original event, marketed as a rare opportunity to observe a "little known but interesting people," attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors who watched the Somali families cook, weave and dance for entertainment. More than 120 years later, this initiative puts Britain's colonial history under public scrutiny, acknowledging how such displays dehumanised individuals and communities. For local authorities overseeing cultural services and education, the exhibition offers a model for confronting difficult historical narratives. It raises vital questions about how modern children's services and schools can accurately teach colonial history, promote inclusion for diverse communities, and ensure that local Somali residents — many of whom arrived in Bradford during the 1950s and 1960s — see their heritage reflected with dignity in civic institutions.