Dark Side of Tanzania – When Human Life Gets a Price Tag
This post will probably read as a fiction but unfortunately is a reality in Tanzania and some other countries in Africa. Albino people living on mainland Tanzania, particularly in the Lake Victoria region, live under constant threat.
Ritual attacks, kidnappings, trade in organs and body parts, trafficking and sale of Albino children, infanticides are some of most horrific threats for Albino adults and children. Top it up with discrimination, stigma and social exclusion from society or even abandonment from parents!
Albinism in Numbers
Albinism is rare genetic, non contagious condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment production formed in the skin, eyes and hair. Melanin deficiency causes complex visual impairment; it also eliminates natural ability to defend against the sun damage of the skin and results in heightened risk of skin cancer.
Eighty percent of Albinos develop skin cancer by the age of 30 in Tanzania. Albinism consequently impacts life expectancy to under age of 40 in many Sub Saharan African Countries.
In western countries there is one albino on every 20 000 people. In Africa it is estimated on average that one in every 5,000 people are affected by the genetic disorder while prevalence of Albino condition solely in Tanzania is estimated to 1 in 1,400!
This means that there are over 33,000 persons with albinism in Tanzania, although Albino Association of Tanzania believes the total figure could be more than 150,000.
Albinos can be found in Kenya Tanzania, Nigeria, Burundi, DR Congo, South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, the killings are common mostly in Tanzania.
Albinos are especially vulnerable in Mwanza and Shinyanga area, where witchdoctors (in Swahili waganga wa kienyeji) helped promoting a belief in the magical properties of albinos’ body parts.
Beliefs About Albinism
Beliefs and myths about Albino people in Tanzania and the rest of Africa are heavily influenced by centuries old superstitions and present till today widespread by witchdoctors.
People with albinism never die. They are not human – they are ghosts!
People with Abinism condition are perceived in many cases as ghosts that can simply vanish, a curse from the gods or from the ancestors, as devil person. It is believed that contact with Albino person will bring bad luck, sickness or death.
While researching online I came across at least 20 different words with negative connotation used only in Tanzania for Albino condition: Zeru Zeru, Kaselema, Embulamwela (white dog), Mwera, Abela, Dinzelu, Tyu (white monster), Isope, Isoye, Mbulamwela, Lisowe, Risohe, Amasohe, Mlangala, Vhalangala (meaning transparent evil spirit), Mwema, Avhbema, Sope, Tupinkile, Mbilimelo, Elihehe, Lijungu.
Most of the listed words above have similar meaning – whitish ghost-like creature. A local from Ukerewe Island explained that things are slowly changing and nowadays those negative words are used less frequently due to work and education of NGOs in local communities . The proper non insulting term in Swahili would be mtu mwenye uremavu wa ngozi which means a person with skin disability.
Having sex with a woman with albinism will cure AIDS.
No comment on this one.
Potions and Charms made of Albino body parts bring Wealth and Good Luck
A charm or potion made from the body parts of a person with albinism, has magical powers – bringing its owner wealth, success and good luck. So, touching alive Albino brings bad luck and dead Albinos body parts bring good luck. And this is where the horror stories begin. Killings, kidnappings and murders of Albinos.
Many also believe that rituals and charms increase in their magical powers if the body parts are amputated from alive person, screaming during amputation. Then there is the specific use of children, as they are easier target along with boosting magical rituals because of their innocence.
Although Albinos are in constant threat on a daily basis, the most risky time for Albino is time before elections. Last year in 2015 when Tanzanian elections took place, Tanzanian government detained a little less than 40 traditional healers to protect and lower the possibility of Albino killings. Who actually are buyers is still unknown but is clear the Albino trade is huge business.
To spot a vulnerable Albino person it is said that informant gets paid 100 USD, while the prices for killings are unknown to authorities. Witch doctors offer to pay for a complete set of albino body parts – genitals, tongue, ears, nose and all four limbs for 75,000 USD while alive, kidnapped Albino can be sold to buyer for 250 000 USD.
Ukerewe Island – A Refuge for Albinos
Ukerewe island on Lake Victoria, also called an island of Albinos has become in recent years a refuge for people with Albinism in Tanzania. During my trip to Ukerewe island I paid a visit to Albino center out of Nansio town.
Although they dont keep accurate statistics, the rough count of Albino on Ukerewe Island goes up to almost 80 people, for now scattered around the island and is believed to be the highest concentration of albinos in one place in the world.
Knowing all these facts I wanted to see the albino center so I met with the chairman, Ramadan who also suffers Albino condition. To my surprise the center was in construction although I got impression from website that already fully operates.
Despite wanting to meet Albinos and hear their stories, I was told until the center is not fully built they live in their homes around the island. In addition it was a week day and children were at school. Ramadan offered to visit his family, so we biked back to Nansio where I met his wife and child, both with Albino condition. Those who have Periscope app can find archived live stream from this visit on Safari Junkie account.
Due to language barrier and limited translation abilities of my guide I managed to hear at least a little bit about his youth and experience growing up as an Albino in Tanzanian society. Ramadan was born in 1970 to healthy parents. His birth was shocking to both parents, specially to father who accused the mother of cheating and claiming Ramadan was not his child.
His parents separated, father left the family because of the skin colour of his son. Ramadan was marginalized all of his childhood, mocked and bullied from peers but luckily in all of his life time he was never hunted by with doctors.
As he grew up to young adult, he decided to deal with his self esteem and not being a vicim anymore. He accepted him self, got married and today enjoys a normal life like anyone else. He loves working in Albino center and has high hopes for people affected with albinism.
Once the Albino center is finished, it will serve as a day center where children and adults will find many creative and educational activities after school including providing food and other necessities. Financial donations from visitors are most welcome, even more than any other form of material support, but if you visit them, and want to donate useful things, then sun glasses and hats along with sun screen are on the top of things to bring.
Wow Nina, what a story! It is so sad to read about people around the world who are marginalized or other-ed simply because of their skin colour, or in this case a genetic rarity. It sounds like in Tanzania it’s not even THAT rare! I feel so sorry that there are so many people having to endure psychological and emotional pain while constantly watching their backs. It’s wonderful that you went into the community and are bringing stories beyond the safari.
Thanks Kate! To check on Albino society was one of my primary reasons to travel to remote (and beautiful) Ukerewe Island.
I had no idea that this was even going on and am saddened by the discrimination people endure just because of their appearance. The percentage of Albinos developing skin cancer by the age of 30 was a shock to me. 80% is so high!
The rate is high sun in Africa is much stronger and their sensitive skin and usually no protection are the main factors for such high rate.
Wow. This is so shocking for me, and highlights so well how little I know about this earth. It’s really unbelievable that they need a refuge for albinos because of peoples’ false beliefs. Hopefully they are eradicated soon with education.
Who would have blamed you for not knowing. Albino issue isnt something country would brag about it, but in recent years due to some media coverage on Al Jezera and others helped to move things in Tanzania and slowly things are changing. Unfortunately perpetrators oftentimes still dont get punished for several reasons.
This is such heart-wrenching story. Really sad.
Big kudos to Ramadan for managing this center and providing safe haven for the Albinos. Such is life, we always fear what is different or don’t understand and that kind of thinking can only be fixed with education and awareness.
Great story and thanks for sharing.
It is hard to convert superstitious beliefs and it will probably take decades of constant awareness before these crimes will disappear.
Oh my god, I can’t believe there are such myths about a condition such as this. Goes to show people will believe anything. I am especially shocked to hear myths about potions and charms to cure body parts. This would def put the Albinos in danger and its a sad situation. Thank you for writing this and hopefully this will reach some who need to be educated on these things.
According to the prices in Albino trade, looks like the most superstitious are the rich ones!
It is indeed sad that racism in some form or the other still stalks the world. Such a pity that people are discriminated against and harassed for no fault of theirs.
Nina, it is truly amazing and heart-warming to see you write a story as important and meaningful as this. I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes as I read this, it is terrible what they have to go through and the threat they are under. Good on you for highlighting such an important issue that hardly gets any attention.
Thank you, if i have a chance, i try to get close to less known issues.
It sounds like a bit it is becoming an albino tourist attraction or could you just go there in your capacity as a writer? I would hate a place that is meant to be a refuge for people to become a zoo for the curious. What do you think?
Do people all go there volunteerily or are they ‘sent’ there too? It gives me the horrific association of a leper colony…
I dont think it gonna happen what you mentioned. Most people dont know the center even exists and I had to use my local resources to get to them. Thats why they prefer money donations as mentioned in the post. People are coming there voluntarily, it was people before the centre. Although there are other centers in Tanzania in Mwanza region, even in Dar es Salaam.
Crap! I had no idea there were so many superstitions around albinos. That’s sad and horrific. Thanks for sharing though.
This was an absolutely fascinating read – it’s hard to imagine that any of this exists in the modern world. I wonder why the rates are so much higher there than in the rest of the world.
Nobody can explain the phenomena of such high rates.
Oh my goodness! I wish this WAS fiction. I never, ever knew about the health complications (like skin cancer) that come with having albinism, but I suppose that makes sense. I think it’s so important to raise awareness about things like this and I’m so glad that you wrote this the way you did. To the point, blunt, a bit shocking, but true. The albino center sounds like it was probably a life-changing visit for you.
I’m Tanzania, and I’m ashamed to say I’m one. How evil can people get. When I read the story about Albinos , how they are killed for their colour I cried a lot , and would like to donate to the refuge camps for Albinos. So sad.
Thanks for these vital information provided I’m so interesting in this albinos issues and would like to help financially whenever possible can you please send information on where to send something such as money or sun creams product as l know the need it badly. Thanks Mpembi
Sorry I dont remember anymore the name of ngo.