Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies was a unique figure in history. Born into a Royal, West African dynasty, she was taken to England at the age of five and presented to Queen Victoria as a “gift” from one royal family to another.
The story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies is a fascinating one. She was born in 1843 in Okeadon, a Yoruba kingdom in present-day Nigeria. Her father, Chief Forbes, was a warrior and a leader of the Egbado clan. When Sarah was five years old, her village was attacked by the King of Dahomey, and her parents were killed. Sarah was taken captive and given to the King of Dahomey as a slave.
However, Sarah’s story did not end there. In 1850, the British Royal Navy captain Frederick E. Forbes rescued Sarah from the King of Dahomey and brought her to England. Impressed by Sarah’s intelligence and poise, Captain Forbes presented her to Queen Victoria as a “gift” from one royal family to another.
Queen Victoria was so taken with Sarah that she adopted her as her goddaughter and gave her the surname “Davies”. Sarah was educated in England and lived in the royal household. She was treated as a member of the royal family and was even presented with a miniature portrait of the Queen.
Sarah eventually returned to her homeland in Africa and married James Pinson Labulo Davies, a wealthy Yoruba businessman. The couple had five children and Sarah became a successful businesswoman in her own right.
Although Sarah was not Queen Victoria’s biological daughter, she was an important part of the royal family. She was a symbol of the Queen’s commitment to the abolition of slavery and her dedication to promoting racial equality. Sarah’s life story is a testament to the power of love and acceptance, and she will always be remembered as a remarkable figure in history.
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