An extraordinary life: descendant welcomes biography of woman ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria
A girl called Àìná was captured by an African king and later taken to England to become Sarah Forbes Bonetta, protege of the imperial monarch
TL;DR
- Sarah Forbes Bonetta, originally named Àìná, was taken from Nigeria to England and became a royal protege of Queen Victoria.
- A new biography by Prof Henry Lovejoy explores Bonetta's life, challenging myths and highlighting her complex relationship with the British monarchy.
- Bonetta was effectively indentured to Queen Victoria and her image was used to promote the idea of Britain's "civilising mission."
- Her descendant, Bayo Randle, discusses his family history and the "duality" of Bonetta's life, acknowledging both her resilience and the exploitation she faced.
- Bonetta was a linguist, musician, travel writer, and educator who became a leading woman in 19th-century Lagos.