William McGee, the anthropologist who hired Verner to bring Benga to the United States, intended to display him along with other groups of people from all over the world at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. This “human zoo” was meant to display different cultures and bring attention to the fledgling field of anthropology. But there was also a darker purpose behind it. Each group was meant to represent a different stage in human development. And when the predominately white audience examined the people on display, the idea was that they would recognize themselves as the pinnacle of civilization.
When Benga and the other people in his group arrived in St. Louis, they were meant to serve as an example of the least developed people on the planet. And that’s exactly how Benga was presented. Like many Mbuti people, Benga had his teeth filed into points as a ceremonial decoration. This feature made it easy to portray Benga as a savage beast, and he was billed to visitors as “the only genuine African cannibal in America.” However, Benga was certainly not a cannibal or a beast, and people were often struck by how naturally friendly he was.
But Benga remained a frightening curiosity to visitors, and he quickly became one of the most popular attractions at the fair. Benga and the Batwa pygmies in his group soon realized they could make a bit of money by charging visitors to see their teeth or take photographs together. However, their popularity with visitors quickly became a burden on the group. Naturally, they wanted to find time to quietly gather together outside of the exhibit at least one day a week. But the swarming crowds made these moments of relaxation impossible. When Verner came to visit, he noted that the pygmies were essentially prisoners.
But Benga made the most of his temporary captivity and struck up a friendship with the Apache leader Geronimo, who was also the subject of an exhibition at the fair. The Native Americans were often paired in performances with the Africans, and the two men quickly came to respect each other. Geronimo eventually gave Benga an arrowhead as a token of their friendship. With the fair coming to an end, Verner was awarded a gold medal in anthropology for his work in arranging the exhibition. And after recovering from a bout of malaria, he accompanied Benga on the voyage home.
Back in Africa, Benga tried to make a new life with the Batwa and eventually married a Batwa woman. However, when his new wife died of a snakebite, the Batwa decided Benga was cursed and banished him. So, Benga left and traveled across Africa with Verner on his later expeditions. And when Verner finally returned to America, Benga decided to go with him. There, Verner briefly managed to find Benga work in a museum. But struggling to adapt to American society, Benga soon found himself back in a zoo.