Can you imagine an African princess—orphaned, enslaved, stripped of her identity, and taken from her homeland by the age of eight—rising to become Queen Victoria’s goddaughter?
Sarah Forbes Bonetta is the name history remembers, but it wasn’t the one she was born with. At just 4 years old, she was sold into slavery and, in an unexpected twist of fate, became the goddaughter of the most powerful queen in the world.
Seen by many in Victorian society as a “social experiment,” her story is a remarkable journey. Keep scrolling to uncover the extraordinary life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
The Captive Who Became a Gift
Sarah Forbes Bonetta, originally named Aina, was born into the royal family of the Egbado clan in what is now southwestern Nigeria.
At the age of seven, her village was raided by King Gezo of Dahomey, a kingdom notorious for its human sacrifices and role in the transatlantic slave trade. Sarah witnessed the slaughter of her family and was taken captive by Gezo’s forces.
In , British naval officer Frederick Forbes arrived in Dahomey to convince King Gezo to abandon the slave trade.
King Gezo refused and offered Sarah as a “gift” to Queen Victoria, calling it
The African Princess: Sarah Forbes Bonetta
At the age of five, Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies, born into a Royal, West African dynasty, was taken to England and presented to Queen Victoria as a &#;gift&#; from one royal family to another. A unique and admired figure in history, she spent her life between the British royal household and her homeland in Africa.
Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies, a West African Yoruba girl, was captured by the King of Dahomey in during a &#;slave-hunt&#; war in which her parents were killed. In , when she was around eight years old, she was rescued by Captain Frederick E Forbes of the Royal Navy whilst he was visiting Dahomey as an emissary of the British Government. Forbes convinced King Ghezo of Dahomey to give Sarah to Queen Victoria saying: &#;She would be a present from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites.&#; The young girl was subsequently given the name Forbes as well as that of his ship, the &#;Bonetta&#;.
She returned to England with Forbes who presented her to Queen Victoria, who in turn gave her over to the Church Missionary Society to be educated. Sarah suffered from fragile health and in she returned to Africa to att
African princess and Queen Victoria’s goddaughter, Sarah Forbes Bonetta ()
This is a legacy story from an earlier version of our website. It may contain some formatting issues and broken links.
Today&#;s Pioneering Women of Sussex blog post is written by guest blogger, Amy Zamarripa Solis and highlights the incredible story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
Whenever I pass St Nicholas Church, Brighton climbing up the hilly Dyke Road from the town centre, I always think of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, the famous slave princess and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. She married in this unlikely seaside church in August Not very big or grand this church, not as Victorian as one would think, but looking at it with modern eyes, it seems rather humble. And yet, according to Bert Williams MBE D Lit., co-founder of Brighton & Hove Black History, when she got married there were so many people in attendance that she couldn’t get through the door to walk to the altar.
Sarah Forbes Bonetta, (Sarah Davies), , taken by Camille Silvy
In the height of summer , a wedding party like no other strode through Brighton. 10 carriages of white and African high society people made its ways to the church.
Cap
African Princesses: A Look Into The Majestic Stories of Real Life African Princesses
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Have you ever pondered upon what life is like for African princesses? If so, then let&#;s delve into the world of African royalty. Here are some African princesses who have made their mark in history, and some little things you should know about them.
For centuries, African princesses have been a symbol of grace, beauty, and strength. The history of African princesses is a fascinating journey through time, filled with stories of courage and determination, love and sacrifice, and the evolution of traditions and customs. In this article, we will celebrate the legacy of African princesses, from the early kingdoms to the modern-day societies, and discover the enduring impact of these noble women on the continent&#;s history and culture. Join us on this inspiring journey of discovery and be enlightened on the true essence of African royalty. Although there is a large repertoire of examples to pick from, I have chosen to write on this select few because of the uniqueness of each of their endeavours and how each of these women vary in both style and approach to navigate their circumsta
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