For many people living with albinism, discrimination goes far beyond insults and staring eyes. In some communities, it becomes a matter of survival.
Kwame Andrews Daklo, Albinism Programs Coordinator with Engage Now Africa, says dangerous myths and ritual beliefs continue to place the lives of persons with albinism at risk across parts of Africa, including Ghana.
In an exclusive interview with Voices of Concern, Mr Daklo described a reality where people with albinism are targeted both in life and after death because of long-held superstitions surrounding their body parts.
“People think when they cut our body parts and use them for rituals, they will become rich,” he said. “You are alive, you are being hunted. You are dead, you are still being hunted.”
According to him, one of the most common myths is the belief that persons with albinism do not die naturally.
“People say persons with albinism do not die. Basic science tells you every living thing dies,” he explained. “It is just a way to hide crimes committed against people with albinism.”
Mr Daklo referenced research in Ghana that points to cases where persons with albinism have allegedly been killed and sacrificed in ritual practices.
He said in some cases, graves of deceased persons with albinism are later dug up for their bones, which are then used in rituals tied to wealth, fishing or mining.
“People believe that if they put your bones or even your hair in a fishing net, they will get a bumper harvest,” he said. “Others believe if they bury part of your body at a mining site, they will find more gold.”
Beyond ritual attacks, he also spoke about the social isolation many persons with albinism experience in relationships and family settings.
According to him, some people are discouraged from dating or marrying persons with albinism because of pressure from friends or relatives.
“They ask, ‘Where are you going with that person?’ Sometimes families do not want you to mix with them,” he said.
Despite the discrimination, Mr Daklo says he does not see albinism as a curse or something to be ashamed of.
“If I am to be born again, I would still prefer to be born a person with albinism,” he stated.
He also used the interview to raise awareness about the medical realities of the condition.
Persons with albinism lack melanin, the pigment that protects the skin from the sun. As a result, prolonged exposure can lead to severe burns, sores and, in many cases, skin cancer.
“When we expose ourselves to the sun, our skin burns. It becomes red and starts blistering,” he explained. “Consistent sunburns, in most cases, can lead to skin cancer.”
He added that many persons with albinism also live with visual impairment.
“Persons with albinism are legally blind. Our kind of blindness cannot be completely corrected. It can only be managed,” he said.
Mr Daklo further challenged misconceptions that albinism is linked to curses or punishment from the gods.
“My father does not have the condition. My mother does not have the condition. But I do,” he said.
He believes fear and ignorance remain at the centre of discrimination against persons with albinism.
“If you do not understand something, you fear it,” he said. “That fear makes people discriminate against you. They call you names.”
Watch video below:
