By The Extraordinary Life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta
From Captive to Royal Goddaughter: The Extraordinary Life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta
​History is often filled with stories of resilience, but few are as cinematic or poignant as the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta. Born into a Yoruba royal family in West Africa around 1843, her life began in the halls of power, only to be upended by the brutal realities of 19th century warfare and colonial diplomacy.
​A Royal Life Disrupted
​Originally named Aina, Sarah’s childhood was shattered during the Okeadon War in 1848. When the Kingdom of Dahomey captured her community, she witnessed the loss of her family and was taken as a royal prisoner. For two years, she lived in the court of King Gezo, her life hanging in the balance as a captive of high status.
​The “Gift” and the HMS Bonetta
​In 1850, a turning point arrived in the form of Captain Frederick Forbes of the British Royal Navy. He was on a mission to convince King Gezo to end the Atlantic slave trade. In a complex diplomatic exchange, Forbes requested the young girl’s release. Gezo agreed, presenting her as a “gift” to Queen Victoria.
​It was during the voyage to England that she was renamed. She was given the surname of her rescuer, Forbes, and the name of the ship that carried her to a new life, the HMS Bonetta.
​A Protégé in Windsor Castle
​Upon her arrival in England, Sarah was introduced to Queen Victoria. The Queen was immediately struck by the young girl’s intelligence and grace. Rather than being treated as a mere curiosity, Sarah was taken under the Queen’s wing. Victoria became her godmother and personally financed her education, ensuring she was tutored in literature, French, and music areas where Sarah showed remarkable genius.
​Bridging Two Worlds
​Sarah Forbes Bonetta did not just exist in the shadows of the British aristocracy; she became a respected member of Victorian society. However, she never fully disconnected from her African roots. In 1862, she married James Pinson Labulo Davies, a wealthy Nigerian merchant and philanthropist. Their wedding was a major social event in Brighton, signaling her status as a bridge between African royalty and British high society.
​A Lasting Legacy
​Sarah’s life was tragically short; she passed away in 1880, but her legacy lived on through her children. Her daughter, named Victoria in honor of the Queen, also became a goddaughter to the monarch, continuing a unique bond that defied the racial prejudices of the era. Sarah’s story remains a powerful testament to the fact that African excellence and royalty could not be extinguished, even by the most turbulent forces of history.
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