Why are people with albinism still being attacked and mutilated?
There has been an increase of attacks on children with albinism in Madagascar
Africa Daily · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
Albinism is an inherited condition that affects the production of melanin. People born with the condition have fair skin, hair and eyes.
Superstitions about the body parts of people with albinism have led to violent attacks.
In 2008 Tanzania appeared to be the epicentre of these superstitions and attacks. Anyone living with albinism there lived in fear. The BBC’s former Tanzania correspondent Vicky Ntetema’s reporting on the brutality of the attacks - maiming and beheadings - brought global attention to what was happening there.
Over the past 16 years, attacks in Tanzania have reduced significantly but the recent increase in violence against people with albinism in Madagascar suggest the problem has not gone away.
In today’s episode Africa, Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to journalist Raissa Ioussef in the capital Antananarivo and to Ikwonponsa Ero, the Managing Director of the African Albinism Network.