[Gutenberg 45442] • A Camera Actress in the Wilds of Togoland / The adventures, observations & experiences of a cinematograph actress in West African forests whilst collecting films depicting native life and when posing as the white woman in Anglo-African cinematograph dramas

Togoland was a German protectorate in West Africa from 1884 to 1914, encompassing what is now the nation of Togo and most of what is now the Volta Region of Ghana. The colony was established during the period generally known as the "Scramble for Africa".

In introducing this book "A Camera Actress in the Wilds of Togoland" Major H. Schomburgk, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, writes:

"IT was after my return from my first West African cinema expedition, in June 1913, that I made up my mind to try and film native dramas in their true and proper settings.

"My aim was to visualize, as it were, for the European public, scenes from African native fife as it once was all over the continent, and as it is even now in the more remote and seldom-visited parts ; and it was further my object to so present the various incidents as to ensure their being pleasing and interesting to all classes and conditions of people.

"To this end, then, it became necessary for me to find a white woman capable of acting the principal parts, supported by native supers. My thoughts at once reverted to Miss Gehrts, a lady with whom I have been acquainted for some little while, and whom I knew to be a keen sportswoman, a good rider, and possessed of histrionic ability of no mean order.

"It did not take me long to persuade her to accept the offer I made her ; but her parents raised many objections, based principally on the supposed dangers and privations which they assumed — not altogether wrongly —to be inseparable from the trip. These objections, however, were eventually overcome, the enterprise was undertaken and brought to a successful conclusion, and this book is one result of it."

"Finally, I should like to say that this book possesses the distinction of being the first published record of a journey through Togoland ever written by anybody, man or woman, black or white. It is, therefore, in a sense unique."

Meg Gehrts (1891 in Hamburg- 1966) was a German actress, author and editor. African explorer Hans Schomburgk hired her in 1913 as an actress for movies that were filmed on location in Togo. About her experiences in Africa she wrote in 1914 the book A Cinema Actress in the Wilds of Togoland.

the volume is an unpretentious but brightly written narrative of what must still be considered an unusual experience. Miss Gehrts, although young, is obviously a "film-actress" of some experience, but, whilst attending strictly to business, she kept her eyes open, and has succeeded in making an interesting, lively, and occasionally instructive book. Her references to native modes of life, customs, and industries show a capacity for observation that is far from superficial. As might be expected, the illustrations are numerous and excellent.

ONE of the recent additions to cinematograph exhibits has been a series of films depicting native life in West Africa, which are reported to be in every way excellent. It has even been claimed that they may in a few years become valuable as ethnographical records. The series was made in Togoland under the direction of Major Schomburgk during a visit of 6 months’ duration commencing in September 1913. Miss Gehrts was engaged to join this expedition, partly to assist in the staging of the various scenes, and partly also to act in certain pieces, notably the White Goddess of Wangora, which were intended to add a new realism to the usual stock in trade of film dramas. In this capacity she had a very varied experience: travelling into almost entirely new districts, living for weeks in close contact with the natives, and then coming back to be the guest of the Governor and leading officials of the colony.