“She said she was an Amazon warrior” 👑🌍 But the truth behind Madame Aboma’s rise to fame is far more powerful than the legend. From her Southern roots to global stardom, her journey defied expectations and rewrote the narrative. Discover the woman behind the myth in the article below 👇
Madame Aboma was a well-known figure in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many believed she was an Amazon warrior from Dahomey, but the real story of this remarkable woman was quite different.
Her real name was Ella. She was born in South Carolina, and her parents were former slaves. Their original last name, Grisby, came from the people who had once owned them. After slavery was abolished in the United States by the 13th Amendment, Ella wanted to move on from her family’s painful past. She later took the last name of the family she worked for as a cook, becoming Ella Williams.
Ella was incredibly tall—about 2 meters and 28 centimeters. No one else in her family was close to her height. Because of her unusual appearance, people often stared at her, and many show organizers tried to convince her to join their acts. She turned them down for years, but eventually she said yes.
She didn’t tour in the U.S. right away, since another famous tall woman, Ella Kate Ewing, was already well known there. Instead, Ella began performing in the British Isles. To make her act more mysterious and exciting, she created a fictional backstory. She said she came from a place called Abomey, in the old African kingdom of Dahomey (now known as Benin and Togo). She adopted the stage name “Madame Aboma” and told crowds she was a real Amazon warrior.
In truth, Dahomey had a group of fierce female soldiers from the Fon tribe, often compared to the mythical Amazons. Back then, they made up nearly a third of their army.
For more than 30 years, Madame Aboma toured the world, visiting countries across Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and even Cuba. She performed in beautiful clothes and looked elegant and majestic everywhere she went.
In 1914, Ella came back to the United States. By then, World War I had begun, and traveling around Europe had become dangerous. But in her home country, she was warmly welcomed. She continued to perform in shows and circuses and remained a beloved entertainer with a large following.
From a young girl born to former slaves to a famous international performer, Ella’s story is a powerful example of how one person can shape their own path and rise above challenges.
Did you enjoy learning about Madame Aboma’s journey? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
