Views
The young Senegalese dancer Féral Benga, who is at present starring in the revue at the Folies-Bergère, was born in Dakar in 1906. He made his debut in 1925 among the extras at the Folies- Bergère, then drew attention to himself in 1926 in a parody of Josephine Baker whom he interpreted with Dorville, to music by G.H. Rivière. With all due deference to paleface chauvinism, it is interesting to note that, at least in the domain of show-business, the deficiency of the white race stands confirmed. After Habib Benglia, of whom nobody today contests that he is one of our best actors, here is Féral Benga who has recently been revivifying our all but dead music-hall after the departure of the great black troupe, the Black Birds, whose presence last summer, sadly too brief, disturbed our torpor. Before Louisiana, the American Negro operetta which will probably soon be staged at the Porte Saint-Martin (with Louis Douglas as manger and Strappy Jones in the leading role), and the film Hallelujah, which, it is to be hoped will soon be screened in public, it is to Féral Benga that the responsibility falls to represent his admirable race before the Parisian public. He is more than worthy of this, as much for his remarkable beauty as for his talent as a dancer.