Sarah Forbes Bonetta- The Yoruba Slave Who Became Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter

In the mid-19th century, an extraordinary young girl from Yorubaland rose from the depths of slavery to become the goddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Her name was Sarah Forbes Bonetta, and her journey is one of resilience, cultural intersections, and unexpected destiny.

Early Life in West Africa

Sarah was born Aina, a princess of the Yoruba people in present-day Nigeria, around 1843. Her life took a tragic turn when, at just five years old, she was captured during a violent war between the Egba people and the Kingdom of Dahomey. The Dahomey army, infamous for its fearsome warriors and slave raids, slaughtered her family and took her captive….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>