187 Years: The Journey to Bring Saartjie Baartman Home

For nearly two centuries after her death, Saartjie Baartman did not rest.Taken from South Africa in 1810 and exhibited in Europe as a spectacle, she died in Paris at just twenty-five. But death did not end her captivity. Her body was dissected, preserved, displayed in a museum, and legally claimed by the French state. For 187 years, she remained far from home - not as a person, but as an object.This episode traces the long and often uncomfortable journey to bring her back to South Africa. It explores the science that justified her dissection, the laws that kept her in Paris, the poetry that stirred political will, and the deeper question that lingers even after her burial: What does it really mean to bring someone home?This is not just a story about colonial spectacle. It’s a story about memory, power, and the unfinished work of dignity.A big thanks to SergePavkinMusic for providing the soundtrack. You can access his music library here:https://www.youtube.com/@SergePavkinMusic/featuredTo get in touch, see references and access additional media and content - visit:https://www.morethanastory.co.zaSupport the show