Albinos gathered on Friday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DR Congo) capital, Kinshasa, for a first-of-its-kind festival to celebrate a minority that suffers rampant persecution in Africa.
“We want to reinforce the visibility of albinos in the upper spheres of society and create role models that allow parents of albino children to not feel ashamed,” said Yan Mambo, an organizer of the “Proudly Albino” event.
Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes.
WITCHCRAFT
In addition to facing discrimination at school and work, albinos in countries like Burundi and Tanzania are sometimes killed for their body parts for use in witchcraft.
At least 76 albinos in Tanzania have been murdered since 2000, with their dismembered body parts going for around US$600 and entire bodies fetching US$75,000, according to UN experts.
At a workshop on Friday, albino women got pointers on starting their own businesses.
Dolees, a 23-year-old hair stylist and aesthetician in training said she was proud of being albino and planned to open her own salon.
“I am elegant. I am beautiful. I have a nice size,” she said. “God created me like this, why should I be hung up?”
As well as discrimination, risks associated with albinism include skin cancer — expensive sun creams are often difficult to obtain — as well as eyesight problems.
EMPOWERED
Instead of focusing on the negatives, the festival in Kinshasa aims to empower the group.
“We want to highlight excellence, because in Congolese society, there are nearly no elite ndundu, said Mambo, using a local word for albinos from the lingala language.
Prominent African albinos include Malian music legend Salif Keita, who called this week for people with the condition to be protected, with fears rising over attacks in Tanzania
“It is completely unacceptable for humans to sacrifice other human beings, it comes from ignorance,” the musician said in an interview during a visit to East Africa.
Rights groups have warned of the risk of a rise in attacks against albinos in Tanzania, which has just begun campaigning for general and presidential elections on Oct. 25.
Some politicians have been accused of buying albino body parts for witchcraft and lucky charms.
The Kinshasa festival, which includes lectures, awareness campaigns and a fashion show, wrapped up yesterday with concerts and a march through the city.
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