Results: Madame Abomah ("The African Giantess"), Part 2 of 7
Published on 08/07/2025
In the late 1800's through the early 1900's, Madame Abomah had a 30-year career appearing in theatres, music halls, and sideshows around the world as a singer and 7 ft 6 inch "giantess." She was billed as a fearsome Amazon fighter from West Africa, but was actually born in the USA.
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Ella Williams left life as a cook in South Carolina behind at 31, when showman Frank Bostock signed her to a contract to perform with the stage name Madame Abomah, derived from Abomey, capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin in West Africa). Bostock created a fictional backstory that Ella was one of King Dahomey's Amazon warriors (who were a genuine female fighting force. Dahomey warriors were the inspiration for the Dora Milaje of Marvel's "Black Panther"). Bostock claimed Madame Abomah had the physical strength to support the weight of a man on her outstretched hand. Do you find it surprising that people paid money for a show whose advertising made outlandish claims like the latter one?
Yes, that is so far-fetched.
15%
315 votes
They just thought it would be entertaining.
13%
277 votes
They wanted to believe.
7%
145 votes
No. They didn't have information resources at that time. They were more open to possibilities.
16%
327 votes
N/A
37%
770 votes
They were doubtful, but still curious.
13%
266 votes
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