Lady Sara Forbes Bonetta: A Remarkable Journey from Slavery to Royalty
As we journey through the archives of history, we encounter extraordinary individuals who transcend adversity and redefine their destinies. One such luminary is Lady Sara Forbes Bonetta (1843 – August 15, 1880), a West African Egbado Omoba whose life story is a testament to resilience, transformation and the power of hope. In this exploration let’s try to look into the awe-inspiring saga of Lady Sara Forbes Bonetta.
Sara, originally named 'Aina,' was born in 1843 in the Egbado village of Oke-Odan. Tragically, her early years were marked by inter-tribal warfare that orphaned her and left her ensnared in the brutality of slavery. In a remarkable twist of fate, her life took a dramatic turn when Oke-Odan was raided by a Dahomean army in 1848. During the attack, Sara lost her parents and was destined for a sinister purpose—a human sacrifice to appease the captors' gods.
Source: Sara Forbes Bonetta photographed by Camille Silvy in 1862
Enter Captain Frederick E. Forbes of the Royal Navy, a man whose compassion and courage would alter the course of Sara's life forever.
Who is Captain Frederick E. Forbes?
He was a British naval officer who played a significant role in the life of Sara Forbes Bonetta, later known as Lady Sara Forbes Bonetta. He is remembered for his compassionate intervention in rescuing Sara from enslavement and for his efforts in bringing her to the attention of Queen Victoria.
In 1848, Captain Forbes was serving in the Royal Navy when he was stationed in West Africa. During this time, he visited the Dahomey Kingdom (located in what is now modern-day Benin) and witnessed the aftermath of a military conflict in the Egbado region. It was during this visit that he encountered the young girl Sara, who had been orphaned and was at risk of becoming a human sacrifice, a tragic fate often imposed by the Dahomey Kingdom on captives.
Captain Forbes was deeply moved by Sara's plight and intervened to secure her release from captivity. He convinced King Ghezo of Dahomey to give Sara as a "gift" to Queen Victoria, seeing an opportunity to spare her from a life of hardship and sacrifice. In his correspondence, Captain Forbes expressed his intention to present Sara as a goodwill gesture from the "King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites."
As a result of Captain Forbes' intervention, Sara Forbes Bonetta was transported to England and ultimately became a goddaughter of Queen Victoria. Captain Forbes' compassionate and courageous act changed the trajectory of Sara's life, allowing her to escape the horrors of slavery and find a new home and family in England.
Captain Frederick E. Forbes' actions in Sara Forbes Bonetta's life serve as a poignant example of the potential for individuals to make a positive impact in the face of injustice and adversity. His role in her rescue and her subsequent life as a member of British high society is an inspiring chapter in history.
So what happened when she arrived in the Royal Court?
Queen Victoria recognised Sara's exceptional intelligence and potential. That is why she chose to raise Sara as her own goddaughter within the British middle class, providing her with opportunities and privileges that were once unthinkable for a young African girl. Sara's presence at the wedding of Princess Alice, Queen Victoria's daughter, in 1862 exemplified her integration into British high society.
Sara Forbes Bonetta's incredible journey continued when Queen Victoria sanctioned her marriage to Captain James Pinson Labulo Davies in August 1862. The couple returned to Africa, where they had three children and played influential roles in their community. Sara maintained a close relationship with Queen Victoria, with both Sara and Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther being the only Lagos indigenes under standing orders by the Royal Navy to evacuate in the event of an uprising in Lagos.
Tragically, Sara Forbes Bonetta's life was cut short by tuberculosis and she passed away on August 15, 1880, in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, a Portuguese island. Captain Davies erected a towering granite monument at Ijon in Western Lagos in her memory, honouring her enduring legacy.
The remarkable life of Lady Sara Forbes Bonetta reminds us that hope, determination, and resilience can illuminate even the darkest paths. Her story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of women who overcome obstacles, push through boundaries, and execute their visions of hope.
If you have found inspiration in her story, please share your thoughts, insights, or experiences in the comments below. Let us celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary woman and empower other women who continue to redefine their destinies against all odds. Together, we can carry forward the torch of hope and transformation.
