Albinism, Witchcraft, and Superstition in East Africa: Exploration of Bio-cultural Exclusion and Livelihood Vulnerability

Abstract

Profuse media reports and discourse on the plight of Persons with Albinism (PWA) in East Africa in the recent times raise the question of livelihood security of a minority group. PWA constitutes a group of people that are marginalized and discriminated owing to cultural perspective of biological condition. The present study draws on the social exclusion theory to characterize the social, cultural, and economic aspects of daily life struggles among PWA in East Africa. Ethnographic research design was adopted for collection of data in selected regions and micro-ethnographic sites inTanzania for ethnography of albinism. This study explores and examines the implications of witchcraft beliefs and superstition for livelihood security of PWA. Purposive and snow ball sampling was used to collect qualitative data from siteswhich featured prominently in reports on insecurity and livelihood issues among PWA and their families in Mwanza and Mtwara regions of Tanzania between 2007 and 2012. The fieldwork was conducted between March and November 2011. The study revealed that stigmatization, socio-economic exclusion and extermination of people PWA in Tanzania today embody more dramatic recurrence of ancient practices affecting people with ‘abnormal’ physical characteristics. It was found out that albinism makes people victims of culturally constructed stigma and inauspicious stereotyping or prejudice related to perceived congenital anomalies. Albinism identifies luminal and ambiguous human beings with ambivalent mystical power. However, witchcraft beliefs and superstitions regarding albinism also epitomize the overall informational deprivation and experience of livelihood insecurity. Economically and socially deprived people seek alternative ways of knowing phenomena and securing livelihood by relating their experience to mystical beliefs and superstitions. People with albinism are either targets for preparation of magical portions for prosperity and wealth or scapegoats for perceived misfortunes in collective life course. East African governments have the responsibility to protect PWA as a threatened minority population of citizens. There is need to sensitize the general public, entrepreneurs, traditional healers, politicians, and local opinion leaders about the fallacy of numinous power in albinism. More persuasion, awareness and human rights advocacy are imperative for protection of PWA and improvement of their lives. Governments and other stakeholders need to recognize the condition of PWA asa public health and social problem and redress it. Improved education and socioeconomic empowerment programmes are necessary to ameliorate the livelihood of People with albinism. There is need for initiatives to enhance the government responsibility to protect PWA as minority citizens. Similarly, Tanzania and other countries in East African, Great Lakes region and Southern need to investigate the international dynamics of body parts trafficking that involve persons with albinism.