Albino killings in Tanzania related to ancient tribal beliefs

beliefs
Albino
Albinos like this young girl are being targeted in Tanzania and Burundi and killed by their communities. (Photo credit: Creative Commons.)

11 February 2010 [MediaGlobal] Last month, Gerald Connelly, a U.S. Congressman, filed a statement pressuring Barack Obama to take action against the brutal albino killings in Tanzania and Burundi. Since 2007, there have been an estimated 53 albino killings in Tanzania and 11 killings in Burundi. In hopes of discouraging further violent acts being carried out against albinos, four men on 1 February 2010 were sentenced to death for the albino killings in Tanzania. This recent wave of mass killings have been correlated to ancient tribal beliefs in supernatural powers some refer to as “witchcraft,” which can also be used to inflict harm or damage to property or the members of a community. Unfortunately, today, we are seeing a sharp increase in the amount of killings due to these ancient spiritual beliefs. Mike O’Maera of the Catholic Information Service of Africa (CISA) tells MediaGlobal “The issue of Albinos has had special repercussions in the way persons perceive each other and the whole idea of “quick” riches from witchcraft related rituals.”
According to Ministry of Safety and Security in South Africa’s Northern Province, the Commission of Inquiry into Witchcraft, Violence, and Ritual Killings compiled in 1996 stated that thousands of people had been accused of witchcraft and ten farms had been set up in the Northern Province for refugees forced out of their homes. Furthermore, the use of witchcraft-related rituals and their connection to health issues has seen an increase in recent years with the prevalence of communicable diseases.
According to the World Health Report conducted by the World Health Organization in Africa in 2002, HIV/AIDS, lower respiratory infections, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, and childhood diseases accounted for 50 percent of the mortality rates. The HIV/AIDS epidemic was the largest threat to Africa, resulting in over 2 million deaths. In rural communities, where there is a lack of access to healthcare, some members of the communities are attributing diseases like HIV/AIDS to demonic spirits. Often times, locals believe these demons can be extracted by means of inflicting harm to the ailing person or to their family.
In the case of albinism, albino limbs are believed by some locals to have supernatural powers, which can make someone wealthy overnight or help fishermen catch more fish. Andrei Engstrandneascu, who is the zone communications manager of the eastern Africa division of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, informs MediaGlobal that the price for a “complete kit” of albino body parts including: legs, arms, hair, ears and genitals can cost up to $75,000. Measures, along with public advocacy campaigns, are being taken to dispel myths that lead to albinos being killed. “Authorities together with the Red Cross are engaged [in] explaining the health and genetic reasons behind albinism and promoting a culture of tolerance and harmony,” said Engstrandneascu.
People suffering from this genetic disorder have health problems like skin cancer and poor eyesight, which often requires medical attention. Engstrandneascu explained, “The killings have spread such a fear that albinos – even if they have the [financial] means – do not dare travel long distances from their villages to the Dar es Salaam oncology hospital.” In other instances, albinos living in the rural communities are migrating towards cities, in fear for their lives.
While the beliefs in supernatural powers used to heal people suffering from serious ailment, have always been part of African culture, killings as a result of the myths surrounding disease, have been a recent development. Engstrandneascu commented: “[locals] do not recall such practices taking place in the past (killing of albinos for body parts used in witchcraft). However, ritual killings of animals were and still are common in east and west Africa. In parts of Africa (like Nigeria and Uganda) they do abduct and kill children, suggesting that the use of innocent blood would ‘bless’ a major enterprise. Similarly, albinos have been singled out by the color of their skin and are used in the same way.”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, “believes that a combination of tougher judicial measures, education and adequate health services could curb these killings and restore the dignity of people with albinism.” It is from a lack of education and adequate healthcare that these killings were able to escalate to such a degree.