Sarah Baartman
Sarah Baartman is a famous Griqua and Khoi-Khoi icon, has been the subject of a number of works of art, literature, theatre and film.
Also known as Sara Baartman or Saartjie Baartman. She is also known as the Hottentot Venus, the name under which she was displayed in Europe.
Biography
Born sometime in the period 1770s–1789 near the Gamtoos River, Eastern Cape, Dutch Cape Colony.
She died in Paris, France in 1815.
She has had her dignity restored in death when her remains were returned from Europe and buried in the Eastern Cape on August 9 2002. This was only achieved after the Griqua people launched a campaign in 1995 to get back her remains. Her remains are now interred at Vergaderingskop, Hankey, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Cultural role
Among the plays and performance pieces based on her life have been:
Kom terug, Saartjie (“Come back Saartjie”) by Hans Pienaar (2005),
Cargo: Precious by Sylvaine Strike (2014).
