Who she was and why her history matters to Blocktober
Adapted from the original article published on 27 Oct 2025 by Dr Jo-Anne Duggan, Heritage Consultant.
Sara “Saartjie” Baartman (c. 1789–1815)
was a Khoekhoe woman from the Eastern Cape who was taken to Europe in 1810 and
exhibited there as a racialised spectacle. Her body was treated as an object of
public curiosity and, after her death in Paris, parts of her remains were kept
and displayed in a museum.
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| An unusually sensitive portrait of Saartjie Baartman |
Her remains were repatriated to South
Africa in 2002 and she was buried at Hankey in the Eastern Cape on 9 August
2002.
Today her story is remembered as a stark example of the exploitation and objectification of an African woman. The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children adopted her name in honour of her memory and as a symbol of dignity and resilience.
Her story therefore has particular meaning for Blocktober through its close partnership with the Centre, and it also gives meaning to the name of this blog, Steps for Saartjie — each step reflecting solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence and support for the Centre’s work.
For the full 2025 reflection on her life by Dr Jo-Anne Duggan, read The violence is in the viewing.
Find out more about the Saartjie Baartman Centre and its work with
survivors of gender-based violence.
Historical reference: South African History Online – Sara “Saartjie” Baartman.
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