Albinos and Discrimation: Take a second look

I recently read a true story about a Woman who had just given birth and was being labelled a witch because she had given birth to an Albino. The in-laws did not want to have anything to do with this mum nor her baby because they feel they have been disgraced.

Come to think of it, every mum’s pain of pregnancy for nine months vanishes upon seeing her baby delivered and in one piece, but what will be your reaction if the baby happens to be an Albino???

“Albino” is the name originally given by Portuguese explorers to “white Negroes” they saw in West Africa. Since then it also has come to mean an individual, of any species of living thing, which lacks the pigments that other members of its race normally have. Albinos occur among all races of men, almost all species of domestic animals, and a wide variety of wild species. We also see, sometimes, the opposite: an intense pigmentation called “melanism”.

Enough of the History, how many times have we as individuals turned and given a second look to an Albino we see? Its even speculated that Albinos don’t die and vanish into thin air, they have magical powers and a lot more.

Discrimination against Albinos is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but recently in Tanzania it has taken a wicked twist: at least 19 albinos, including children, have been killed and mutilated in the past year, victims of what Tanzanian officials say is a growing criminal trade in Albino body parts. Many people in Tanzania — and across Africa, for that matter — believe Albinos have magical powers. The young are often the targets. In early May, Vumilia Makoye, 17, was eating dinner with her family in their hut in western Tanzania when two men showed up with long knives. She was killed (Credit: New York Times-June 08)

I believe, Albinos don’t choose their pigment and they depict God’s uniqueness in creation and therefore deserve our acceptance of them as such.

The next time you see an Albino, remember, they are also human and must be treated as such.



Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant