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Home > South Africa: Return of 'Hottentot Venus' unites Bushmen

Contributor [1]
Friday, May 10, 2002 - 03:00
Categories: 
Racism & xenophobia [2]
Issue Number: 
63 [3]
Article-Summary: 

The return to Cape Town of the remains of Saartje Baartman, the Khoisan lady dubbed the "Hottentot Venus" in Europe, could provide the spark for the revival of Khoisan - or "Bushman" culture. The Khoisan people are widely believed to be the original inhabitants of the southern tip of Africa. Baartman's remains, which were placed in a coffin draped in the South African flag, were returned 186 years after her death in Paris where she died a pauper. French scientists made a mould of her body and...read more [4]

The return to Cape Town of the remains of Saartje Baartman, the Khoisan lady dubbed the "Hottentot Venus" in Europe, could provide the spark for the revival of Khoisan - or "Bushman" culture. The Khoisan people are widely believed to be the original inhabitants of the southern tip of Africa. Baartman's remains, which were placed in a coffin draped in the South African flag, were returned 186 years after her death in Paris where she died a pauper. French scientists made a mould of her body and preserved her skeleton, genitalia and brain which remained on display at the Museum of Mankind in Paris until 1974.

Category: 
Human Security [5]
Oldurl: 
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category.php/racism/7353 [6]
Country: 
South Africa [7]

Source URL: https://www.pambazuka.org/node/9465

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