 Thus, when the Hottentot Venus was displayed in England in the beginning of the 19th century, the African Association publicly opposed itself to the exhibition.The same year that Kipling published his poem, Joseph Conrad published "Heart of Darkness" (1899), a clear criticism of the Congo Free State, which was owned by Leopold II of Belgium.Examples of racial theories used include the creation of the Hamitic ethno-linguistic group during the European exploration of Africa.