THE GHOST PEOPLE OF TANZANIA
They are called, zeru zeru, which in Swahili translates to the ghost people – these are the persecuted people with albinism (PWA) in Tanzania. Currently, Tanzania holds the world’s largest population of people living with albinism with 1 in every 1,400 individuals. But for country with such a large albinism population there is little awareness on the fact that albinism is a genetic condition. As a result of these misconceptions, the albinism population lives under the daily threat of abuse, abductions, and ritual killings.
Witchcraft is at the root of Tanzanian culture, and ‘Albino elixir’ has become a formula of which waganga wa kenyeji (African witch doctors) brew albino body parts fueling beliefs. They spread the lie that these potions bring wealth, power, and good fortune.
PWA have been kidnapped, tortured, and the murdered because of this misbelief.
Over the years, the situation has severely worsened, with the body parts of PWA selling for over $75,000 on the black market.This large sum of money in a country with great poverty has dismantled many communities as neighbors, friends, family members have evolved into murderers. This persecution over pigment has been mythologized for “medicine” and voodoo killings, and has created the genocide of the albino population.
THE VISUAL ADVOCACY PROJECT
In late August, I will be spending five weeks in Tanzania to create a visual advocacy project exploring the identities of Tanzanian PWA. The aim for every photograph produced is to combat the discrimination and attacks against people with albinism through education and advocacy.
Through powerful testimony and public art, I hope to create a bridge for Tanzanian society to become informed on truths of the condition and advocate for the inclusive human rights of people with albinism.
I will push the boundaries of the medium by exposing the photographs in the means of large-scale diptychs throughout Tanzania, bringing art into the streets – as a means of a public space for an encounter between a subject and it’s audience. One side of the diptych will be a photograph of a PWA conveying their unique personality and identity. The other will display a written passage, sharing their experience and voice. Please reference mockup below:
Bringing these images to a privileged space such as a gallery or online publication will not allow me to reach my targeted audience. These visual documents need to be seen by the very society that created these fallacies.
To go about the project, I will be collaborating with Tanzanian organization: Under the Same Sun. UTSS is passionately committed to ending discrimination and violence against persons with albinism and facilitating social inclusion and participation. Through the guidance of UTSS, I will have the opportunity to conduct thorough field researching techniques and become integrated into the albinism community as sensitively as possible.
You can read more about them here: www.underthesamesun.com
When human rights are ignored, the marginalization of certain persons within a society prevent such a group from becoming involved and benefitting from development. People with albinism have been rendered worthless by a society that denies their existence, yet their bodies hold a high commercial value for those that believe they hold magical power. These individuals live their entire life hidden. Hidden from the sun, hidden from light, hidden from others, hidden in the shadow of the world.
IMPACT
1 – Allows these individuals to tell their own story rather than someone tell it for them. Let them speak of their experiences, emotions, thoughts – as they have been silenced for so long.
2 – Education breaks the cycle of injustice, poverty and marginalization.
3 – To treat people with albinism with dignity, respect, and equality. To eradicate stigma and discrimination and for PWA to have the same opportunities for health, safety, gainful employment and personal fulfillment as everybody else.
WHAT IS NEEDED & WHAT YOU WILL GET
*** This project is entirely self funded and your support truly matters! ***
I am NOT asking donations for my flights, visa, vaccines, accommodations or travel expenses: 100% of your donations will go to executing this fundamental project!
All donations raised will go towards:
In return, besides my infinite gratitude and love, you will:
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Sharing and spreading the word this campaign would be AMAZING! A repost on any social media, email forwarding or knock-on-your-neighbors-door. A little help goes a long way.
For any additional questions on the project or just want to know more, please do not hesitate to reach out:
– hello@shotbysoraya.com
(*Please note that the as an individual advocating for the dignity of persons with albinism, the term “Person with Albinism (PWA)” is preferred over its similar variants over the term “albino.” This is not only because of the historically derogatory use of “albino,” but also because the term, PWA, puts the person before their condition)
_______________
Image Credits:
#1: Justin Dingwall – www.justindingwall.com
#2-3, 9 – 10: Daniel Rodrigues – www.danielrodriguesphoto.com
#4 – 8: Ana Palacios – www.ana-palacios.com