Sarah Forbes Bonetta: Queen Victoria’s African Godchild
In Victorian England, an unbelievable story unfolded—one of an African girl who went from captivity to becoming the Goddaughter of Queen Victoria. Her name was Sarah Forbes Bonetta, and her life was a blend of tragedy, resilience, and royal favor that challenged the norms of her time.
A Traumatic Beginning
Born around 1843 in what is now southwestern Nigeria, Sarah was originally named Aina and was the princess of the Egbado clan of the Yoruba people. Her early years were shattered when, at age five, her village was raided by the Kingdom of Dahomey (another Yoruba empire that they were warring). Her parents were killed, and Aina was taken captive, destined for a grim fate which could have involved a life of servitude, abuse and even human sacrifice in King Ghezo’s court. But in 1850, her life took an unexpected turn. British naval officer Captain Frederick Forbes arrived in Dahomey on a mission to curb the slave trade. He managed to Persuade Ghezo to spare her life and make Aina a “diplomatic gift” for Queen Victoria. Captain Fredrick Forbes would rename her as Sarah Forbes Bonetta after himself and his ship, HMS Bonetta.
A Royal Welcome
Sarah arrived in England at age seven, a small figure stepping into a world far from her own. On November 9, 1850, Forbes presented her to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. The queen, then 31 and a mother of seven, was immediately captivated by Sarah’s intelligence and poise. Victoria wrote in her journal that Sarah was “sharp and intelligent,” a “little black woolly head” with a story that touched her heart. Rather than treating her as just a curiosity, Victoria took her under her wing, declaring herself as Sarah’s Godmother and funding her education. It’s unclear if Sarah was formally baptized under Victoria’s sponsorship—some suggest she was christened earlier in Africa—but the queen’s personal commitment to her is undeniable.
A Life in Two Worlds
Sarah’s upbringing was a mix of privilege and displacement. After arriving in England she lived with Forbes’ family, where she would quickly learn English, showing a flair for music and academics. Her health was fragile, marked by a persistent cough blamed on England’s damp climate (stress and exposure to new pathogens likely contributed to this as well), which led to a stint at a missionary school in Sierra Leone from 1851 to 1855. Returning to England at 12 years old, she was placed with Reverend James Schon in Chatham, Kent, and became a recurring visitor to Windsor Castle, charming the royal court with her talents. Victoria nicknamed her “Sally,” a sign of affection, underscoring their bond.
In 1862, at 19, Sarah’s life was to be shifted again. Queen Victoria arranged her marriage to James Pinson Labulo Davies, a wealthy Yoruba merchant from Sierra Leone. The wedding, held at St. Nicholas Church in Brighton, was said to be a spectacle—ten carriages, sixteen bridesmaids, and a mixture of black & white individuals from high society. The couple soon moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where they had three children: Victoria (named after the queen), Arthur, and Stella. The queen became young Victoria’s godmother too, gifting her a gold cup and later an annuity, ensuring the family’s ties to royalty endured.
A Legacy Cut Short
Sarah’s life was extraordinary and defied what many would imagine was possible at the time, however it would later be plagued by tuberculosis, she sought relief in Madeira, Portugal in 1880 but unfortunately died there on August 15, at around 37. Victoria mourned her, writing of “poor Victoria Davies, my black godchild,” who learned of her mother’s death while visiting Osborne House. Sarah’s husband erected an eight-foot obelisk in her memory in Lagos, a testament to her impact.
A Window into Victorian Britain
Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s story isn’t just a personal tale—it’s a lens into Victorian attitudes on race and empire. To some, she was a “civilizing” project, proving Africans could thrive under British guidance. To others, her presence in high society defied assumptions about Black women, especially in the Victorian era. Her intelligence and grace made her a celebrity. Today, her portrait by artist Hannah Uzor hangs at Osborne House, part of English Heritage’s effort to spotlight overlooked and underrepresented Black figures who have contributed to Britain.
