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Albinos (whose hair, skin and eyes lack normal pigmentation) have a difficult time as it is with discrimination and segregation without fearing for life and limb. They are often misunderstood and looked upon as outsiders. In some parts of Africa they are considered aberrations, and according to Isaac Mwaura of the Albino Association of Kenya, they are often thought of as
harbingers of disaster, while others mistakenly think albinos are mentally retarded and discourage their parents from taking them to school, saying it's a waste of money, he said. Due to a lack of education, many albinos are illiterate and are forced into menial jobs, exposing them to the sun and skin cancer, he said. Those who manage to finish school face discrimination in the work place and are never considered for promotions.
So, not only are they discriminated against, Albinos in Tanzania and Burundi are being murdered for their body parts. Thanks to witch doctors, some East Africans (mainly Tanzanians) believe albino body parts have some sort of magical power, so they have become a hot commodity, especially for the rich, who can afford to buy them:
a complete set of body parts - including all limbs, genitals, ears, tongue and nose - can sell for $75,000. Wealthy buyers use the parts as talismans to bring them wealth and good fortune.
44 in Tanzania and 14 in Burundi have been slaughtered for their body parts, since 2007, including young children. The latest murder occurred in October 2009 when a 10-year-old boy Gasper Elikana, had his head and leg chopped off. His father suffered serious injuries trying to save his son. As a result of all the killings, almost 10,000 have moved or gone into hiding for fear they will be next.
Albino Mary Owido, a teacher, had to move away from the Kenyan/Tanzanian border town where she lived and taught, because a young albino girl she knew was killed for her body parts. She is still fearful and only feels safe with her children and husband and at school.
"Wherever I go people start talking about me, saying that my legs and hands can fetch a fortune in Tanzania," said Owido, 36, a mother of six. "This kind of talk scares me. I am afraid of going out alone."
The African populace needs to be educated, now, not only about albinos, but about another horrendous false belief that virgins can cure HIV/AIDS, which has led to an unprecedented amount of rapes of young girls and babies.
