We Are Human, Just Like You: Albinism in Malawi -Implications for Security (original) (raw)
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Africans with albinism experience stigma and discrimination as people with white skin in black societies, and as people with disabilities of low vision or blindness and susceptibility to contracting skin cancers. A more recent form of discrimination is attacks against people with albinism, only reported by news media in Tanzania since 2006. Violence in the Great Lakes district appears to be driven by traditional 'witchdoctors' and carried out by contract killers to meet a market for albino body parts along an axis of wealth and poverty. This paper discusses how discrimination and violence against people with albinism, especially children, is portrayed in Swahili and English Tanzanian news articles of 2008-2012. A content analysis reveals that coverage is most commonly framed in terms of law enforcement and national shame, reflecting sourcing from court and police reports and politicians' statements, with some human rights framing. This analysis also shows how people with albinism are portrayed as 'skin-disabled', humans with rights and as economic commodities, and their attackers as subhuman and betrayers of the nation. Although such violence is seen as shameful, Tanzanian media provides public space for African people to debate and shape knowledge about the impact of cultural and economic development on disadvantaged persons with albinism.
Dignity, Community and Albinism in Malawi
Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics, 2020
Thaddeus Metz, “African conceptions of human dignity” (2012), presents an African conception of dignity that he relates to human rights. In this paper, while ignoring Metz’s discussion on human rights, I specifically look at how this conception can be applied to one of the problematic moral issues, killing of persons with albinism. That is, how Metz’s view would account for exclusion and wrongness of killing of persons with albinism. I argue that the killing of persons with albinism is acting in violation of their dignity. This comes from the view that persons with Albinism are human beings with a dignity, and therefore ought not to be killed. I offer a discussion on how dignity as capacity for community based on shared identity and good-will is not reflected in the way persons with albinism are treated in Malawi.
Malawi has experienced a boom in radio and television stations, newspapers, online media, and a democratic dispensation has been put in place, but reporting of human rights abuses in the country is unsatisfactory. One of the most pressing issues at the moment in the country is the killing, maiming, abduction and disappearance of persons with albinism. Persons with albinism face discrimination and stigma based on false beliefs. A content analysis of Malawian newspaper articles on the attacks on persons with albinism suggests that reporting is largely specific, reactive and superficial. The articles from the Times Media Group and Nation Publications Limited published between 2016 and 2018, seem not to aim at demystifying the issue of albinism as a mere disability, and the press portray persons with albinism as helpless victims of voodoo. There is hardly any framing of articles to show positive contributions or normalcy of persons with albinism. The Malawian newspapers should highlight their achievements and portray them as more than mere victims. Additionally, there is a role for investigative journalism to help in tracking buyers of body parts of persons with albinism. Better reporting of violations would ultimately help raise human rights standards in Malawi and Africa as a whole.
Heliyon
Background: Albinism is a genetic condition caused by a deficit in the production of the pigment called melanin, which protects the skin against ultraviolet light and provides the skin with its color production. The condition may predispose persons with albinism (PWAs) to lifelong physical and health problems, such as visual impairment and ultraviolet induced skin damage. Due to this condition, we explored the challenges faced by persons living with albinism as they socialize in Lilongwe District, Malawi. Method: The study adopted an interpretative phenomenological approach and included 30 participants comprising 13 females and 14 males with albinism and three key informants from Association of People with Albinism in the Lilongwe district in Malawi. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Van Manen's (2014) six steps of phenomenological analysis was used to analyze all data. Results: People with albinism face a variety of problems, the most common of which are financial constraints, health complications due to a lack of adequate medical care, a lack of community support leading to stigma and discrimination, and superstitious beliefs. Conclusions: People with albinism suffer socially as a result of misconceptions, behaviours, social isolation, labelling, and beliefs that are negatively correlated with their disorder. PWAs face these problems as a result of public misunderstanding about albinism.
This article discusses the coverage and portrayal of violent attacks against people with albinism, in Swahili and English news media in Tanzania between 2008 and 2012. Violence in the Great Lakes district of East and Central Africa surrounding Lake Victoria appears to be driven by traditional ‘witchdoctors’ and carried out by contract killers to meet a market for albino body parts, in a context of superstitious beliefs about albinism, economic inequity and continued poverty. A content analysis revealed that media coverage of the violent attacks was most commonly framed in terms of criminal activity and shameful cultural practices—reflecting sourcing from court and police reports and politicians’ statements—but also as a socio-economic phenomenon and an issue of human rights. These interpretative frames highlight the complexity of the violence, the debate over its causes, and the need for multiple levels of solution. Although the violent attacks are seen as shameful, Tanzanian media provides public space for people to debate and shape knowledge about the impact of cultural and economic development on disadvantaged persons with albinism. This article commends the value of further interdisciplinary and international research to understand and respond to similar phenomena affecting vulnerable groups throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 2019
The mythology of most African societies includes the belief in patriarchy and primogeniture, holding the view that succession and the continuity of family lineage are only possible through the males. As such, women are considered inferior to men and often treated with prejudice. Albinism is also treated with prejudice in African societies. This includes the belief that sexual intercourse with a woman or a girl with albinism can cure serious infections like HIV/AIDS. Thus, in addition to common forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by women in Sub-Saharan Africa, those with albinism are particularly vulnerable to rape and sexual violation. In extreme cases, especially in East and Central Africa; these women and other persons with albinism are kidnapped for sacrifice or ritual purposes. Their vital organs are harvested for preparing Bcharms^for magic and spiritual powers. In other cases, they are simply murdered to ensure that they do not procreate. This paper explores common myth-based violations against women with albinism in Africa. It argues that these women suffer the tragedy of double prejudice and special violations to dignity and life, contrary to standard templates of international human rights. It then suggests specific measures for dealing with these violations at all levels: societal, municipal, regional, and international. Significantly, the paper raises global consciousness on the persecution of minorities, especially women and girls with albinism in Africa.
Journal for the Study of Religion
Albinism, an inherited condition from birth as a result of the lack of melanin pigment which usually changes the colour of the skin, hair and eyes, is usually greeted with resentment in most African communities. In Ghana, some communities and families consider it a misfortune to give birth to Albinos and hence, attempts are made to either kill them at birth or banish them from the community. They are constantly abused and ridiculed by the public with derogatory names and social tags that serve as a form of stigmatization. Evidently, it is clear that the discrimination against albinos in Ghana are underlain by religious and cultural beliefs. This article takes into perspective how religious beliefs and cultural values contribute to the plight of albinos in Ghana and further, discusses how the inculturation of human rights can help mitigate the violence that is perpetrated against persons with albinism.
Violent attacks against persons with albinism in South Africa: A human rights perspective
African Human Rights Law Journal, 2017
South Africans living with albinism are among the most marginalised and vulnerable of the country's citizens, yet very little attention is given to protecting them from human rights violations, threats and violent crime. Although the extent of violent crimes targeting South Africans with this condition has not reached the levels encountered in other African countries, new evidence indicates a surge in violent crimes against persons with albinism. The vulnerability of these persons requires immediate attention before it spirals out of control. It is clear that a case is to be made for compelling, in particular, the state to intervene. Based on the groundbreaking decision of the South African Constitutional Court in the Carmichele case, this article begins a debate on the state's affirmative duty to prevent, investigate and punish violent acts against persons with albinism, as it is feared that the incidents reported in South Africa may trigger copycat crimes. Provisions from international and regional human rights instruments relevant to the issues faced by persons with albinism highlighted in the article are explored briefly.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN STUDIES, 2023
People with albinism in sub-Saharan African countries have long struggled for equal rights and the understanding of society at large, fighting stigmatisation and, in numerous cases, for their lives against wrongdoings in the form of killings and other physical atrocities. This article examines the Tanzanian context and adds to the ongoing academic discourse by presenting tangible manifestations of awareness-raising and education in village communities. It summarises the efforts and results of NGOs in Northern Tanzania working with and run by persons with albinism (PWAs) and presents an analysis of both success and failure. It highlights the work of the NGO named Peacemakers for Albinism and Community (originally Albino Peacemakers). The article argues that safeguarding the vulnerable groups of PWAs remains a task at all levels of society, from remote villages via central governments to the international community; therefore, educating people about this conditioneven PWAs themselves carries the highest relevance.