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2. The History of the Basenji
Today, basenjis can still be found in their native Africa where they are highly valued by the natives for their hunting prowess.
Basenjis were first brought into the western world around the turn of the century. Known then as "Congo Terriers", unfortunately these little dogs contracted distemper and died.
It was not until the early part of the 1930's that they were successfully brought into England, by people who had owned them as pets in the Sudan. They became established as a breed just before World War II.
In 1959, Veronica Tudor-Williams and Michael Hughes-Halls undertook an expedition to the Sudan, looking for new breeding stock. They returned with a young red and white bitch called Fula, who changed the breed dramatically, adding elegance and improving temperaments. A legend in her own time, Fula passed away of old age in 1974.
Basenjis were first brought to Australia in 1946 by Dr Lex Caselberg, who bred them until 1953. Most of these Basenjis went to pet homes, and between 1957 and 1960, there were no Basenjis bred in Australia. They continued being bred in New Zealand, however.
Around 1960 the breed re-appeared in Australia with Beryl Hancock breeding in Sydney, and Lillian Barker breeding in Melbourne and by 1970 Basenjis had well and truly become part of the Australian Show Scene, being bred and shown in almost every state of Australia.
The Basenji made his first appearance in South Australia in 1969, and attracted much media attention, being featured a few times in the Sunday Mail. During the 70's and 80's there were many Basenjis being shown on a regular basis with much success, the most notable dog probably being Aus Ch Bambuti Jungle James, who twice was the Best Exhibit in the Hound Group at the prestigious Royal Adelaide Show. Another local Basenji Aus Ch Balshah Allakazam was exported to America where he too was exhibited with much success, and became the first Australian bred dog of any breed to earn the title of US Field Champion.
For a variety of reasons, during the early 1990's, the number of Basenjis being bred and exhibited in South Australia dropped away, but since 1996 the breed has made a resurgence, and today, South Australian Basenjis regularly compete with success against the best basenjis in Australia at the New South Wales and Victorian Specialty Shows.
E-V1.1 - January 2005
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Page Created: 29 December 1998 - Last Updated: 10 June 2007
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