Enrobement Ceremony
The metaphor of undressing or taking off one’s clothes is widespread throughout the literary world. Peeling off layers of heavy clothing and baring one’s body is often seen as empowering and enlightening. As each layer is removed, one’s true character becomes clearer. But what if one’s clothing has already been removed? What if others have taken and tried to reveal by force what was never theirs to take? During Sarah Baartman’s short life and even after her death, those around her tried to strip her of all that she had. Her naked body was put on display for voyeurs who saw her as a freak and treated her as a zoo animal. After she died, a “scientist” cut her body into pieces and put her into jars. For Baartman, much was removed including attempts at human dignity.
Given Baartman’s disturbing history, it is appropriate that she was honored with an enrobement ceremony rather than one that further disrobed. The photograph displayed above is from the August 4, 2002 program of the “Enrobement Ceremony of Sarah Baartman.” This ceremony upheld Baartman’s dignity by covering her with the cloth and symbolic worth that was taken from her by force. While nothing can fully make amends for the harm imposed upon Baartman, the metaphoric enrobement of her body and spirit worked to publically acknowledge the pain she suffered. Like Diana Ferrus’ poem that called Baartman back to her home, this ceremony reached for something that seemed quite lost and reclaimed what was owed: dignity, respect, and belonging.