“Give her flowers while she is still alive,” is the thought that led to the heart-warming documentary, Bones, a series of interviews with the late Diana Ferrus produced by Nomandla Vilakazi, a master’s student at the University of Cape Town.
The documentary was screened at Die Stal in Stellenbosch on Thursday evening, and drew an audience of family members, local residents and students, all gathered to witness the story of the late Dr Diana Ferrus and her tireless work to secure the repatriation of Sarah Baartman from France.
In her welcoming address, Dr Zethu Mkhize, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact, highlighted the importance of recognising human rights within South Africa’s historical context.
“We need to be aware that we come from a history where human rights weren’t always acknowledged in this society,” she said, referencing the Sharpeville Massacre
She said, “This documentary encapsulates the story of a Khoi woman, Sarah Baartman, who was taken from South Africa and displayed in London before being taken to France as a freak show attraction.”
Although earlier efforts had been made to return Baartman’s remains, it was Ferrus’ 1988 poem, “I Have Come to Take You Home”, which captured global attention and helped galvanise the repatriation process. In recognition of her literary and cultural contribution, Ferrus later received an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University.
Bones shows Baartman’s return using old footage and includes interviews about Ferrus’ activism, drawing connections between historical exploitation and the contemporary realities of gender-based violence and femicide.
An emotional Vilakazi recounted how a chance meeting with Ferrus shaped the documentary’s direction.
“This idea came after the widely publicised story of the death of first-year UCT student, Uyinene Mrwetyana,” she said. “I had to channel my anger towards something that would change. I realised we need to start intervening and healing. That is how the Sara’s Echo project was born.”
She also reflected on gaps in the education system.
“What I found most surprising [was that] even though our parents paid so much in tuition for our education, none of it included teachings on our indigenous people. That is why I had never heard of Sarah Baartman before exploring her on my own.”
Vilakazi’s earlier film, An Ode to Sarah, led to her meeting Ferrus. “She welcomed me with open arms,” she said, noting that Bones centres on the poet’s pivotal role in bringing Baartman home.
Through the Sara’s Echo project, funded by the National Film and Video Foundation’s GBV Awareness Screening Fund, Vilakazi is taking her films into high schools and universities across Cape Town. Each screening is paired with workshops that address consent, bodily autonomy and agency.
The first screening of Bones took place on 29 January – just one day before Ferrus’ death. For Vilakazi, completing the project became a form of tribute. “There would be no greater send-off [for her] than seeing this project through,” she said.
As the representative of the Ferrus family, Mohammed Ferrus reflected on his aunt’s enduring legacy.
“Since her passing, we have received immense support from far and wide. We knew our aunt was important, but we never imagined so many people knew her,” he said. “Even now, as we walk the streets of Worcester, people stop us to ask if we are related to Dr Ferrus. It is nice. We are very grateful for the way Nomandla is making sure our aunt’s legacy is not forgotten and preserved for future generations.”
The screening concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, where audience members engaged critically with Baartman’s history and the prolonged resistance from France to return her remains. Discussions touched on the effects of imperialism and colonialism, and the responsibility of institutions, particularly universities, to keep the stories of Sarah Baartman and Diana Ferrus alive.
