Hey guys,
Sorry for the lack of an explanation.
From what I've learned in my own research or by what my client has told me, the Zulu Cannibals were a Negro League team that wasn't an official member of any formal league. Being a creature of Charlie Henry in the mid-1930s, they would done African tribal paint while they played, as well as going shirtless, barefoot, and wore little more than grass skirts. I've read that they were the same kind of attraction that the Harlem Globetrotters would later become, but were quite capable of playing some serious ball.
From what I can gather, this particular shot of "Kankol" must have been for promotional purposes, as similar ones can be seen in the broadsides depicting the team from the era. Speaking of which, those were pretty...um...telling themselves.
Check out this one:
And another:
And here's a photo of "Wahoo", which was used in the above:
And finally, the original shot of "Kankol":
Who the little girl is in the back is anybody's best guess.
So, yeah, this stuff is kinda tough to approach, but so important to not forget.
Hope this helps.
Graig