Photo by Alexandro

8th Oct 2009 -Diamond Jubilee Hall,Dar es Saalam

 

Concept & Choreography: Vanessa Tamburi 

Music: Graber, Permegguani, Monk, East African music  

Video Design: Nassos Chatzopoulos  

Lighting & costumes: Vanessa Tamburi 

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I was not aware that in the 21st century, witch doctors still made magic potions out of human body parts. I did not know that in some African countries, albinos are not considered human beings and that killing an albino was not even considered a capital offence, until very recently. I did not know that many albinos, mostly women and children, have been killed in different parts of Tanzania over the past year for their body parts. I did not know that discrimination against albinos is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa….I learned all of this from the news and then I decided to interview a friend…and from there, my piece started

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The objective of the project is to develop awareness on the albinos problem in Tanzania. Discrimination against albinos is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, many people in Tanzania believe albinos have magical powers. They stand out, often the lone white face in a black crowd, a result of a genetic condition that impairs normal skin pigmentation and strikes about 1 in 3,000 people here. Tanzanian officials say witch doctors are now marketing albino skin, bones and hair as ingredients in potions that are promised to make people rich. According to the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) study, nearly half of the parents of albino children felt humiliated at the time they gave birth; albino women are subject to discrimination from other women and also women who give birth to albino babies are often mocked or rejected and suffer work discrimination; Considering that the best way to protect the rights of Tanzanian albinos is to guarantee them equal access to quality education and health care, within the framework of inclusion policies, and to ensure them an adequate social and legal protection; many steps forward must be done, the problem is far away to be solved, the killings go on. They have spread even to neighbouring Kenya,  and Burundi.

“We have to fight against Albino's  discrimination,  because it continues some of the perceptions of Africa we’re trying to run away from”