On the African continent, discrimination against people with albinism is intensifying
Nadja Wipp
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only shown us how engraved discrimination against marginalised groups are globally, but also how such prejudice has been there the entire time. Those who were already vulnerable to discrimination were failed before the pandemic even began. On the African continent, Covid-19 took a special toll on a certain marginalised group: persons with albinism.
Living in South Africa as a person with albinism is not only dangerous, but oftentimes deadly. While they are actively and systematically killed for their body parts in different Southern African regions, persons with albinism are much more prone to get sunburned, which can lead to skin cancer as well as other skin problems, due to their skin's sensitivity to light and sun exposure.
This issue does not only require government support to ensure the protection of persons with albinism, but also sunscreen and other treatments, which people in poverty cannot buy without government aid.
Photograph: courtesy of © Sanele Xaba. Photographer @jonasmuellerphoto / Stylist @crooks_styling / Make-up @tinafischbach_makeupartist.
Covid-19 has intensified this systematic marginalisation. To assist people to deal with the epidemic, South African governments have offered food aid and stimulus packages. However, Amnesty International has shown that in some countries, people with albinism are routinely denied access to public help, such as social grants, owing to an access requirement that does not consider their condition to be an impairment during this pandemic.
The Malawi Street Musician and albinism in Africa activist Lazarus Chigwandali shared a photo on his Instagram (@lazarus_music) speaking out on the situation regarding albinism in Malawi with the caption:
“Killings of people with albinism are goi[n]g up in Malawi! This is very very bad news! I worry for my children. This must end now. How do we still do this to our brothers and sisters in 2021! We need to wake up Malawi!”
According to UN South Africa, various lockdowns to curb the virus spread provided another risk for people with albinism of being attacked for their body parts because they are locked up in unsecured houses and neighbourhoods alongside potential offenders. Motivated by misconceptions that their body parts bring money, power, and good fortune, their body parts can be worth up to 75,000 dollars.
“Despite progress on many fronts, I was deeply saddened at the notable increase in reported cases of people with albinism being killed or attacked because of the mistaken believe that using their body parts in potions can bring good luck and wealth,” said Ikponwosa Ero, the outgoing UN independent expert on the rights of people with albinism at the UN in Geneva this year. “Even more tragically, the majority of victims have been children.”
Persons with albinism in South Africa have become the scapegoats for Covid-19, in many regions even referred to as “Corona” themselves, depriving from the belief system that albinism is the carrier of the virus since the virus originates from China, a country where the majority the population are light-skinned.
Furthermore, witchcraft killings and ritual attacks of people with albinism as well as blaming them constantly for the virus have increased during the pandemic. According to Amnesty International, approximately 150 persons with albinism have been assassinated in countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia just for their body parts since 2014 .
Under the Same Sun, an advocacy group for albinism, affirms: “In Tanzania, people with albinism are called zeru zeru, meaning “ghosts.” It is assumed by some that these “ghosts” bleed a different colour, or even that they are immortal. These dangerous beliefs incites brutal attacks against people with albinism. A baby born with albinism may be considered a curse and be killed.”
The pandemic shows us how deeply profound and dangerous the discrimination of persons with albinism in South Africa is, and how the long-term underreporting and under investigation of this topic has escalated the situation, putting the blame of Covid-19 on an already vulnerable group.
A glimmer of hope in the midst of this pandemic is the Plan of Action to End Attacks and Other Human Rights Violations Targeting Persons with Albinism in Africa (2021–2031) that the Executive Council of the African Union decided to adopt. It involves a significant improvement and understanding of public education regarding albinism, awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building of organisations representing persons with albinism, and the reformation of the justice system to advance accountability for violence against persons with albinism.
The road to full de-stigmatisation of albinism, accountability for perpetrators, and justice for the victims in South Africa is a long one.
However, activists are embracing and celebrating their identity - showing people that hope is still on the forefront despite the many challenges. Positive representation and the celebration of identity can play a part in de-stigmatisation and the breaking of discriminatory structures.
Sanele Junior Xaba, South Africa’s first male model with albinism recently tweeted:
“I deserve to show absolute pride in my roots and skin because I live in a world that tries to make me forget the dopeness of it all.”
The pandemic has given us the chance to tackle the clearly laid out grievances ignored for decades. The only question is: Are we going to take it?
The photograph accompanying this article is courtesy of © Sanele Xaba. Photographer @jonasmuellerphoto / Stylist @crooks_styling / Make-up @tinafischbach_makeupartist.