The Role Of Albinism In Sub-Saharan Africa

Some people define race as if it is something solid or concrete, but what they don’t see is that it is a “social fabrication”(Mathew Desmond, Mustafa Emibayer,2009;2). Race is based on the difference in physical appearance which is determined, for example, by the most apparent trait; skin color. Inequality emerges when people living, whether on the same sovereign terrain or across continents, are not treated with the same amount of respect and not given the chance to engage their rights in a free and fair manner. Race and inequality are often linked together because of the “issues that began in the 1800s”(NFB;Journey to Justice;2000) such as racial segregation. Over the years issues of race and inequality have

As the research continues it becomes ever more important to discuss how exactly the differing pigmentation of one race of people actually occurs, because I feel that it has an effect on the way colorism is handled throughout the African American community. There are two ways in which a person of African descent can be of a lighter complexion; the first being amalgamation, which is the coming together of both the black and white races and reproducing to make a mulatto or mixed race child and the second is the use of cosmetic creams in attempt to bleach one’s skin until they too appear mulatto (Dorman 48). This is relevant because, it shows the extremes that people are willing to go to reach the highest plateau of social acceptance. Many of these creams were painful acidic chemicals slowly burning away the pigmentation as people slept, while others were considered mild abrasive materials used to “gently” scrape away dark pigments (Dorman

You won't die of it...” (11) .Pale skinned people, in Tanzania appear to have their own star, or prompt sign that makes them a target for their communities abuse. Both, the star and attributes of an albino individual in Tanzania makes them the

In Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder, Kidder denounces both the current global distribution of wealth and how the international community views medical aid in needy countries; he does this by including a scene in which Haitians believe that their illness exists because they’ve been cursed, and that Dr. Paul Farmer is the only person who can release the curse. This frustration is expressed when Farmer states that “Haitians believe in sorcery because their culture has evolved in the absence of effective medicine. So of course they believe in sorcery, in sicknesses that someone has sent to them” (Kidder). The fact that such a large group of people are so far behind in medical

The residents of Africa are suffering from preventable, treatable, and fatal diseases everyday at a higher rate compared to developed countries. The healthcare crisis in Africa is the primary cause of all these deaths, and includes inefficient healthcare systems. Consequently, African's inefficient healthcare systems results in poor delivery of care and a shortage of health professionals. The healthcare crisis in Africa is a current issue impacting the lives of many African's who don't have the same access to resources as developed countries such as the United States. These resources can save the lives of many African's dying of preventable and curable disease, and understanding why the African continent has little access to them

People especially in Malawi Africa believe many things about Albinos bodies (skin, bones, etc.). For example, they think that Albinos have mystical powers that could change lives for the better by bringing fortune or power from their body parts. They also believe that albinos are not human and that their only value is the gold that is in their bones. As you can see, the Malawian people’s education are very low on the information on Albinos. If somehow they were educated on how people with albinism are just like them then just maybe there would be a decline on killings and kidnapping. Albinos are kidnapped mainly for their body parts that can be sold for large amounts of money. For instance, an albino corpse in southern can be worth ]75,000 dollars.This proves that albinos body parts are very valuable and profitable when or if you sell them. Due to these beliefs and information, Albinos are targeted and killed.

In remote parts of Zambia when people get sick, instead of being taken to a medically trained doctor, their family takes them to a witch doctor with "magical powers". These families often believe an evil spirit has put a curse on the sick family member. Such superstitious thoughts are not uncommon in Zambia. Witchcraft has a long history in Zambia and even today people turn to such practices. In the bush, a witch doctor is sometimes the only medical practitioner available. In addition to curing a host of metaphysical ailments, they assist in childbirth, tooth extraction, and medical emergencies. When their attempt to heal fails, they often blame failure on the displeasure of the gods or on the unworthiness of the patient. In this way, they are able to maintain their stature, even though their treatments are often unsuccessful.

Historically medicine was practised within the confines of an individual’s culture and ethnic group. Community doctors generally treated people of similar cultural and ethnic beliefs in their local town, clan or extended whanau group. Often religious beliefs dictated what treatments were provided and tribal influences included the

Tanzanian albinos face the struggles of being different from their prominent population in their everyday lives (Burke et. al. 2). Albinos in general have always been facing hardships in sub-African countries (“For the colour of their skin” np ). A prime example of these hardships is the hunting of albinos. African “witchdoctors” believe that the bones and skin of the albino people can cure illnesses and bring wealth (Burke et. al. 3). The government acts are unjust with these accusations, too, as one example explains a man found with bones from an albino was only fined less than 30 dollars (“For the colour of their skin” np). These innocent people are at risk of being kidnapped and slaughtered on a daily basis (Dave-Odigie 69). Chinenye P. Dave-Odigie illustrates an experience from Mariam Emmanuel, who was chased into an alleyway by a mob and was

These people, who have done nothing to deserve what they endure, are losing their lives everyday (“For the colour of their skin” np). They are being dismembered, murdered, bullied, raped, and all in all completely treated different from their general population (Burke et. al. 118). The oppression acted upon these people makes their lives a lot harder than it should be (Dave-Odigie 69). Furthermore, most Tanzanian albinos are children, making these actions even more gruesome (“For the colour of their skin” np). This article tells us a 23-month old baby with albinism was murdered and completely dismembered; all that was left was the baby’s skull and a few teeth (“For the colour of their skin” np). It can also be said that children who suffer with the disease have no reason to be bullied in school. These poor people who cannot do anything about what they have get publicly humiliated, murdered, dismembered, bullied, raped, etc. (Charlton np). The oppression against Tanzanian albinos is certainly cruel and unjust (Ngalomba np). Also, the police and government of Tanzania do not do enough to counteract all the oppression taking place (“For the colour of their skin” np). As stated before, a man found with albino bones was fined less than 30 dollars from the government (“For the colour of their skin” np). Albinos should not go through the hardships they already undergo. They are normal people just like the rest of the population. A different color of skin should not make the surrounders think different of that person. They should not call them “ghost” or other profane names to make them feel different (Ngalomba np). They are human too. Overall, the Tanzanian albinos can now be seen as a population of the

We often connect ourselves to the world through our appearances. One of the first characteristics we notice about another human is the color of their skin. It is unavoidable, as the largest organ of the body, it covers and highlights our individual features and forms a protective wall against the elements. There is no escape from the social repercussions our pigmentation causes no matter what range of the very broad spectrum of color we fall into. I have never thought so much about the genetic and social evolution of skin and its properties until I read Nina Jablonski’s Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color. This book encompasses, in great detail, how our skin has evolved, adapted and mutated throughout time and in what

Prevalence data on albinism is available on Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Worldwide, the prevalence is 1 in every 5000 people but in these countries, it goes as high as 1 in every 1000 people. Africans are generally at a greater risk of albinism and the health and social challenges that are associated with the disorder. This paper studies these reported results discussing the albinos are haunted in Africa due to their skin

The sustainability of an average family in Nigeria is valued at less than 5 dollars a day. Notwithstanding the government’s preposition on the establishment of a health care system that is promotive, protective, preventive, restorative and rehabilitative to every citizen of the country within the available resources so that individuals and communities are assured of productivity, social well-being and enjoyment of living (F.M.H. 1988), the system, as is currently practiced is very inadequate in comparison to the Nigerian growing population and slow-paced economic development. According to the health manpower statistics, the ratio of the registered medical doctors as against the population’s need is put at 1:1,100 with modern medical facilities being administered in mega cities and little or none made available at the rural areas. As a result of lack of supervision or adequate provision for the essential needs of medical practitioners, doctors often times are faced with the conscientious decision to commute to the rural areas to administer Medicare on out-of-pocket expenses, which after a while becomes impossible to carry on. Thus the people in the rural area are left in the care of the traditional healer, who eventually cure their diseases with less charges than the bio-medical practice thereby saving the patients some money. The news of the efficacy of the traditional medical administration soon spreads to the urban cities and an

There have been many documented tribes and villages who exile, murder, and rape any albinos born. One place in particular, Tanzania, as mentioned above as having one of the highest albinism rates around the world is also well known for their albino killings. Witch-doctors believe that the body parts of those with the mutation will bring good luck, success in love, business, and wealth. In March of 2015, thirty two of these witch-doctors were arrested for the ritual killings of at least seventy five albinos since the year 2000. The witch-doctors believe that having sexual intercourse with an albino will cure AIDS, so many albino women of all ages are raped. They also believe that those who are albino are cursed, and sent from the devil which is another reason for the killing of those with the mutation. Though it is not just in Tanzania that it occurs. In many small villages and tribes in Africa, and other places around the world those with the mutation are mistreated. The only person my family can think of that is also albino is my great great grandmother on my father’s side. She was full blooded Cherokee Indian, but because of the mutation she was exiled from the tribe, because they thought she was a bad omen, and would cause bad luck to the rest of the tribe.

This paired with poor law enforcement yields an impossibly hard to get rid of corruption. In Kenya, political corruption has grown rampant. People, who are supposed to be representing the interests of their constituency, instead take money from the constituents to keep their representative positions.