In today's world, superpowers often boast about their commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights while criticizing poorer nations. Yet, do these nations ever look back at their dark histories, or do they choose to ignore them? For if they did, the myth of their humanity and justice would unravel
Today, we delve into the past to tell the harrowing story of a woman who lived during a time when these nations dominated everything, even freedom itself. They reduced other peoples to subhuman levels, asserting that some races were of animal origin
The Life of Sarah Baartman
In a small village along the banks of the Gamtoos River in South Africa, Sarah Baartman was born in 1779 to the Khoikhoi tribe, one of the prominent tribes in the region. Sarah had a beautiful dark complexion but faced tragedy early in life. Her mother passed away when she was just two years old, and her father, a cattle herder, died during her teenage years, leaving her to face a difficult life alone
Like many young girls, Sarah married early and had a child who sadly passed away. When Dutch colonizers arrived in South Africa, the situation worsened. Her husband was killed by the colonizers, leaving Sarah a widow. By the age of 20, she was working as a maid for a Dutch family in Cape Town, where she was nicknamed "Saartjie," a diminutive Dutch form of Sarah
The Exploitation Begins
Sarah possessed physical features that were characteristic of her tribe, particularly a condition known as steatopygia, marked by a large accumulation of fat in the buttocks. This feature, while natural to her tribe, drew the attention of European colonizers
One day, a British doctor and surgeon named William Dunlop visited the Dutch family where Sarah worked. Fascinated by her physique, especially her large buttocks, he proposed purchasing her from her employer and taking her to Britain
While the employer initially refused, Dunlop convinced him by claiming he would study her body for scientific purposes. According to one account, Sarah agreed to travel for fame and fortune. However, this version is doubtful, as Sarah was illiterate and unable to read or sign contracts. The more likely story is that she was sold like countless African slaves at the time when over 20 million Africans were being traded into slavery
The Nightmare in London
At the age of 21, Sarah was taken to London in 1810, where her suffering began. She became the subject of degrading studies and was forced to work in the Piccadilly Circus as part of a freak show. She was displayed in a cage like an animal, compelled to stand naked before gawking spectators eager to examine her body and touch her buttocks for an additional fee
Sarah was made to dance and act like an animal, yet she received no compensation for her labor. The little she was given barely covered her needs
Her plight attracted attention, and the African Association called for her release, while activists like Jamaican revolutionary Robert Wedderburn demanded the liberation of all enslaved people. This advocacy led British authorities to halt her performances temporarily
However, in court, Sarah claimed she worked willingly and received her wages. These statements are believed to have been made under duress, as earlier legal documents contradict her testimony
A Life of Humiliation
After four years in London, Sarah was sold again, this time to a French circus. Her body became the subject of grotesque fascination, inspiring French playwrights to create a satirical opera titled The Hottentot Venus that mocked her
In France, Sarah's exploitation worsened. She was forced into prostitution and turned to alcohol to numb her pain. Her new owner, a doctor connected to Napoleon, conducted pseudo-scientific studies on her body, publishing racist theories that Africans were closer to apes and inherently inferior to Europeans
Even Death Brought No Peace
At 26, Sarah Baartman died in 1816 after enduring a life of slavery, humiliation, and abuse. The cause of her death remains unclear, with theories ranging from smallpox to syphilis or a pulmonary disease
Her body was dissected within 24 hours of her death by Georges Cuvier, a French anatomist, who preserved her brain and genitalia in jars and displayed her skeleton. These remains were showcased at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris
A Journey Home
In 1974, Sarah’s remains were removed from public display and stored away. It wasn’t until Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s president in 1994 that efforts began to repatriate her remains. After nearly two centuries, Sarah Baartman’s body was returned to South Africa in 2002 and buried in her homeland, where a ceremony honored her memory
Reflection
Sarah Baartman’s story is one of countless tales of Africans who suffered under the yoke of slavery. Her life serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by nations that now champion human rights. Will these nations ever confront their dark pasts and seek forgiveness, or will they continue to boast about their commitment to freedoms while ignoring the wounds they have inflicted on the world’s collective memory