Sarah Baartman, a Xhosa woman born in South Africa in late 1789, became infamous in Europe during the early 19th century for being exhibited in freak shows due to her large buttocks, which were deemed unusual and exotic by European audiences.
As a young woman, Baartman was taken from her home by British ship doctor William Dunlop, who falsely promised her work as a servant in Cape Town. Instead, she was brought to England, where she was cruelly displayed as a sideshow attraction in both London and Paris.
Throughout her time in Europe, Baartman was exploited for her physical features, made to perform degrading acts such as dancing and singing for the amusement of spectators. She endured harsh treatment and was never compensated for her performances, all while being subjected to repeated sexual abuse.
Baartman tragically died in 1815 from syphilis at just 26 years old. In 2002, after years of advocacy by the South African government, her remains were finally repatriated and laid to rest in her homeland. Her story is a harrowing reminder of the exploitation and dehumanization endured by Africans during this period of history. May she rest in eternal peace.