Persecution of people with albinism

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Persecution of people with albinism (sometimes abbreviated PWA^[1]) is based on the belief that certain body parts of albinistic people hold supernatural powers. Such beliefs are present in some parts of the African Great Lakes region, and have been exploited by witchdoctors who use such body parts as ingredients in religious rituals which are claimed to bring prosperity (this phenomenon is known as muti or medicine murder).^[2]

As a result, people with albinism have been persecuted, killed and dismembered. At the same time, people with albinism have also been ostracised and even killed for exactly the opposite reason, because they are presumed to be cursed and bring bad luck. The persecutions of people with albinism take place mostly in Sub-Saharan African communities, especially within East Africa.^[3]: 81

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition which is somewhat rare and, worldwide, affects approximately one in twenty thousand people.^[4] Although rare in the western world, albinism is quite common in sub-Saharan Africa, likely as a result of consanguineous alliances.^[3] Both parents, who may or may not be albinos themselves, must carry the gene if it is to be passed on to the child. Albinism occurs in both males and females and is not specific to any race or ethnic group. Statistics show that fifty percent of albinistic people in Tanzania have a known albinistic relative,^[3]: 80 although very few understand or are educated about the genetic causes of this condition. Many believe it is a spiritual punishment and that people with the condition could be contagious, which is often the view of even members of the medical and professional community. These misconceptions, coupled with the lack of education, are some of the key reasons that albinism is so heavily persecuted. This lack of knowledge about people with albinism means that folktales and superstition in the name of witchcraft take the place of medical and scientific facts in the minds of many native Africans, with and without albinism, which in turn has major effects on the social integration of albinistic people into African society. Ninety-eight percent of albinos die by the age of forty for reasons which could easily be prevented.^[5]