Beyoncé Movie Plans Slammed By South African Chief

Singer-songwriter and occasional actress Beyoncé Knowles has been criticised by a South African chief after it emerged the star was planning to make a movie based on the life of a South African woman who was sold into slavery and exhibited in a freak show in the 19th century, calling the project: “a mistake of great magnitude”.

The Sun originally reported the Destiny’s Child singer was planning a biopic about Saartjie Baartman, a KhoiKhoi woman noted for her “large buttocks” and unusual colouring, who was forced into performing across Europe under the name of Hottentot Venus. Knowles is rumoured to be writing, directing, and starring in the movie.

However, Jean Burgess, the chief of the Ghonaqua First Peoples says Beyoncé is not the right person to tell this particular story.

“She lacks the basic human dignity to be worthy of writing Sarah’s story, let alone playing the part,” Burgess told News 24.

“Ignoring the fact that the KhoiKhoi is alive and that Sarah’s story would have an impact on how we are portrayed, is a mistake of great magnitude.”

“Why Sarah Baartman? Why not a story about an Indigenous American woman? I can only see arrogance in her attempt to tell a story that is not her’s to tell.”

Baartman, a native of the Gamtoos Valley in South Africa, was sold into slavery in her 20s. After years in bondage, she died of inflammatory disease in December 1815, and her body was dissected and put on public display in France. Her remains were returned to her homeland in 2002 following a campaign by President Nelson Mandela.

Beyoncé made her movie debut as Foxxy Cleopatra in ‘Austin Powers: Goldmember’ and has since appeared in a number of films with mixed results.

HT: The Guardian

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