Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The first public appearance of Giantess Sabine took place in Brussels. As the giantess of dignity, Sabine fights for the rights of every undocumented person. The narrative follows hairdresser Sabine Amiyeme from Liège, who spent 13 years in Belgium undocumented and then faced deportation after authorities captured her.
The Belgian metropolis of Brussels introduced its recently built giantess, Sabine, to the public during a traditional cultural event. Through her role, Sabine presents advocacy for undocumented people while embodying dignity as a symbol for those without legal documentation. Sabine Amiyeme from Cameroon served as the inspiration for the giantess model.
She operated a hair salon and restaurant business in Belgium, where immigration authorities deported her during her thirteen years of illegal residence. Public pleas for her release led to the development of the giantess who participates in social justice marches alongside cultural parades.
“With giantess Sabine, the giantess of dignity, we want to highlight the dignity of every human being,” says Tom, chairman of the non-profit organisation Friends of House of Compassion. “Also of people who live in our country and have no papers.”
“I am incredibly honoured that my story served as an inspiration for giantess Sabine in Brussels,” says Sabine Amiyemme. “I hope that my story can give hope to others.”
Giantess Sabine will participate in processions and parades, like all Brussels giants. “But she will also be present during protests and awareness campaigns. “A loud and clear voice is needed against the hunt for undocumented people in our country,” says Geneviève Frère, coordinator of House of Compassion. “With our giantess, we want to give our message even more power.”
What is the history behind Brussels’ Giant tradition and immigration struggles?
Giant figures in Brussels have maintained a centuries-long tradition because they represent historical and mythological characters from European folklore. UNESCO included these giants in its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and they appear yearly during festivals to display local cultural roots. Today, the Brussels-Capital Region maintains more than 100 iconic figures which fuse traditional cultural elements with modern societal observations.
Belgium has encountered heated discussions about its immigration regulations, which have focused heavily on the policies involving undocumented migrants throughout the past few decades. The stringent enforcement actions resulting in deportations have triggered opposition from advocacy groups who demonstrate against these activities.
The public recently focused on the case of Sabine Amiyeme, who served 13 years of confinement as a Cameroonian hairdresser in Belgian detention facilities, which exposed conflicts between regulatory action and human rights considerations.
House of Compassion and Friends of House of Compassion have spent multiple years advocating for migrant rights through art-based activism to affect public conversations.
Giantess Sabine integrates cultural heritage with political action to oppose the authorities’ policies against undocumented immigrants. The public activism from past protests has led authorities to reconsider deportation orders, thus proving the impact of public mobilisation on immigration cases.
