Adolfu Tukano is the eldest of seven children, two of which have albinism. Rural life is toughest for people with albinism as it involves working outdoors in the sun. Many people with albinism migrate to the cities where their numbers are larger and in the wake of the killings they feel safer. Mafindi District, Iringa, Tanzania.
Faraja and Pishon Mhewa with their baby brother Jeminus. Their parents are both black skinned but are carriers of the recessive albinism gene. When two carriers have a child it has one in four chances of being born with albinism. Mafinga, Iringa, Tanzania.
Ibrahim Issa Choela and his daughter Jueria. Ibrahim has been attacked twice by people calling him a 'deal', as it is common knowledge that albino body parts are fetching large sums of money. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ibrahim Issa Choela and his daughter Jueria. Jueria's mother ran away shortly after she gave birth as she could not handle the stigma of being married to a person with albinism, she was afraid that if they had another child together it could be born with albinism. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Penina Guahe with her daughters Mary and Dorothy. Mary is Penina and Celestin's fifth child and the only one with albinism. Although they are not aware of any ancestors having albinism, they are not worried about their child as they are educated and understand the condition. Mwanza. Tanzania.
Nuru with her father Bahati. Because Nuru's parents are wealthy and can afford to send her to a good school she gets all the special attention and equipment she needs. Bahati is very loving and protective of her but he still feels the stigma and is reluctant to have another child in case it also has albinism. Mafinga, Iringa, Tanzania.
Ibrahim Issa Choela and his daughter Jueria. Jueria's mother ran away shortly after she gave birth as she could not handle the stigma of being married to a person with albinism, she was afraid that if they had another child together it could be born with albinism. Ibrahim has no job. Ingrained prejudices make it hard for people with albinism to find work. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Faraja Mhewa sits at the front of the class to help her see the black board. All people with albinism suffer from low vision. Wambi Primary School, Mafinga, Tanzania.
Juliana Tukano always sits at the front of the class to help her see the black board. She has glasses but prefers not to wear them as none of her classmates do. All people with albinism suffer from low vision. Lugolofu Primary School, Mufindi District, Tanzania.
Adolfu Tukano marches with the school band in the afternoon when the sun is less strong. People with albinism have no pigmentation in their skin so are unprotected from the sun's UV rays. Unless they are very careful, skin cancer is an inevitability. Adolfu and his sister Juliana are the only children with albinism at their school. Lugolofu Primary School, Mufindi District, Tanzania.
Juliana Tukano plays netball in the afternoon when the sun is less strong. Although she should wear at hat when outside, she doesn't like to, as it is not culturally normal for women to wear hats in Tanzania. Juliana and her brother Adolfu are the only children with albinism at their school. Lugolofu Primary School, Mufindi District, Tanzania.
Martha Hahle with the class she teaches. As a person with albinism she is lucky to have a job and one that is indoors, out of the sun. Ingrained prejudice means that even people with albinism who are educated find it hard to get employment. Ihefu Primary School, Mufindi District, Tanzania.
Baraka Mpulule with his parents and sister. Baraka is the first of five children and the only one with albinism. Being from a large and poor farming family means he doesn't get the attention and care he needs and due to his remote location he has never been to see a doctor. Mapogoro Village, Iringa, Tanzania.
As well as sun damage Baraka Mpulule's delicate skin is prone to infections and diseases if not kept clean which is difficult in a rural environment. He is afraid to play with other children at school in case they are rough with him and they hurt his skin. Mapogoro Village, Iringa, Tanzania.
Peruzi, Grace and Jonasi Yanera are from a family of nine children, they are the only ones who have albinism. Due to the recent killings in the area and their remote location they stay hidden in the house when their parents are not home. Mwanza, Tanzania.
Three sisters, Salma, Bahati and Hadija Jumanne. Between them they have four children, all from different fathers, all who left and don't offer any support. Their only income is from selling small food items, but selling food means walking around in the sun. Since the killings they are scared to go to far alone and at night if one of them needs to go to the toilet they all go together. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Bitia sews school uniforms for a local initiative offering indoor work to people with albinism. However many years of working in the fields means the sun has already done its damage to Bitia's face where she has a tumour growing. She supports her two brothers who are disabled from polio and a son whose father has left. Mufindi District, Iringa, Tanzania.
Hadija Jumanne has her hair plaited. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Pamela Faustin was rejected by her father when she was born and then when her mother died by the rest of her family too. She is now married to a man with albinism man who she met at the Tanzanian Albino Society, an organisation which helps people with albinism connect with each other. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nasoro Kambi receives radiation treatment at the Ocean Rd Cancer Institute Dar es Salaam, from German machines donated 25 years ago. Tumours up to a certain size can be treated with radiotherapy, which is free at the Ocean Rd Cancer Institute, anything larger has to be removed by operation at other hospitals which is unaffordable for most people with albinism. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Recho Kombo has a bad nystagmus (involuntary flicker of the pupils caused by the retina trying to focus on an image), which beyond eight years old is difficult to correct as the brain and retina are fully formed. Glasses can't help her, so her only chance of seeing the black board is with a small magnifying telescope, shown to her here by optometrist Julius Ngoje. Makalala Primary School, Mafinga, Tanzania. Edison Njavike has his eyes examined by an optometrist. Edison is myopic (short-sighted) and has a nystagmas (involuntary flicker of the pupils caused by the retina trying to focus on an image.) When Edison was born some relatives talked about a curse on the family. Fortunately his father Nestus was educated and so was able to reassure his wife. Mufindi District, Iringa, Tanzania. Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, is trying to change attitudes towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, at his local Roman Catholic church. The government has called upon church leaders to help change the country's attitude towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Yombo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, at his local Roman Catholic church. The government has called upon church leaders to help change the country's attitude towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Yombo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Members of the Albino United football team rest after winning a match. Football matches are an opportunity to get huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism by witnessing them playing and winning - something previously not thought possible. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Members of the Albino United football team squeezed into a borrowed van on their way to a match. Football matches are an opportunity for huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism when they see them playing and wining. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A members of the Albino United football team. Football matches are an opportunity for huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism when they see them playing and wining - something previously not thought possible. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Albino United football team practise on the beach daily after 4pm when the sun starts to set and they can be outdoors without worrying about their skin. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In March 2007, in response to the killings, the Tanzanian government moved all children with albinism in the Mwanza area to Mitindo boarding school feeling it could not properly protect them at home in remote areas. There are 62 children with albinism at the school all of which are being kept in over the holidays for their own safety. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania. A student with Zacchaeus Mwiga Solomon, a blind teacher at Mitindo Primary School. The Mwanza area has been worst affected by the killings, which started there. The area is rich in mining and fishing and it is said that fortune seekers in these industries are fuelling the demand in albino body parts. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania. Inside the girls dormitory at Mitindo Primary school. In March 2007, in response to the killings, the Tanzanian government moved all children with albinism in the Mwanza area to Mitindo boarding school feeling it could not properly protect them at home in remote areas. There are 62 children with albinism at the school all of which are being kept at school over the holidays for their own safety. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania. MP Al-Shimaa Kweghir with her adopted daughters, the sisters Tindi and Bibiana. A year ago Bibiana was attacked while she was asleep by men with machetes who cut off her leg and two fingers. Al-Shimaa was made an MP by the Tanzanian president in a bid to stop the killings by giving a person with albinism visible status and respect within the country. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Bibiana Mbushi Mashamba is fitted for a prosthetic leg by Dr Rashidi at the CCBRT hospital. A year ago Bibiana was attacked while she was asleep by men with machetes who had paid off her uncle to let them into the house. Too afraid to go home she stayed in the hospital for a year until Al-Shimaa, a recently appointed MP, was moved to adopting her and her sister Tindi following an official visit to their hospital. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Dr Rashidi examines Bibiana Mbushi Mashamba's prosthetic leg at the CCBRT hospital, Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. On 21st February 2008, Mariam, a five year old girl with albinism, was murdered while she slept for her limbs to be used in witchdoctor medicine. She is buried inside the family house under the bed so no one can steal her bones. It is customary that people with albinism are not given public burials but are buried inside by women alone fuelling the superstitious belief that albinos don't die they just disappear. Misungwi, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam. prevnext 21 of 38thumbnails At 19 years old Mwazani Ibrahim already has very badly damaged skin. Preferring to fit in with her friends she doesn't like to cover up in the sun, as its not culturally normal for women in Tanzania to wear hats or long sleeves. Vingunguti, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nasoro Kambi receives radiation treatment at the Ocean Rd Cancer Institute Dar es Salaam, from German machines donated 25 years ago. Tumours up to a certain size can be treated with radiotherapy, which is free at the Ocean Rd Cancer Institute, anything larger has to be removed by operation at other hospitals which is unaffordable for most people with albinism. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Recho Kombo has a bad nystagmus (involuntary flicker of the pupils caused by the retina trying to focus on an image), which beyond eight years old is difficult to correct as the brain and retina are fully formed. Glasses can't help her, so her only chance of seeing the black board is with a small magnifying telescope, shown to her here by optometrist Julius Ngoje. Makalala Primary School, Mafinga, Tanzania.
Edison Njavike has his eyes examined by an optometrist. Edison is myopic (short-sighted) and has a nystagmas (involuntary flicker of the pupils caused by the retina trying to focus on an image.) When Edison was born some relatives talked about a curse on the family. Fortunately his father Nestus was educated and so was able to reassure his wife. Mufindi District, Iringa, Tanzania.
Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, is trying to change attitudes towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, at his local Roman Catholic church. The government has called upon church leaders to help change the country's attitude towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Yombo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Samuel Mluge, an albino rights activist, at his local Roman Catholic church. The government has called upon church leaders to help change the country's attitude towards people with albinism and to stop the killings for witch doctor medicine that have taken more than 40 lives in the last year. Yombo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Members of the Albino United football team rest after winning a match. Football matches are an opportunity to get huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism by witnessing them playing and winning - something previously not thought possible. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Members of the Albino United football team squeezed into a borrowed van on their way to a match. Football matches are an opportunity for huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism when they see them playing and wining. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
A members of the Albino United football team. Football matches are an opportunity for huge crowds to change their attitudes towards people with albinism when they see them playing and wining - something previously not thought possible. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Albino United football team practise on the beach daily after 4pm when the sun starts to set and they can be outdoors without worrying about their skin. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In March 2007, in response to the killings, the Tanzanian government moved all children with albinism in the Mwanza area to Mitindo boarding school feeling it could not properly protect them at home in remote areas. There are 62 children with albinism at the school all of which are being kept in over the holidays for their own safety. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.
A student with Zacchaeus Mwiga Solomon, a blind teacher at Mitindo Primary School. The Mwanza area has been worst affected by the killings, which started there. The area is rich in mining and fishing and it is said that fortune seekers in these industries are fuelling the demand in albino body parts. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Inside the girls dormitory at Mitindo Primary school. In March 2007, in response to the killings, the Tanzanian government moved all children with albinism in the Mwanza area to Mitindo boarding school feeling it could not properly protect them at home in remote areas. There are 62 children with albinism at the school all of which are being kept at school over the holidays for their own safety. Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.
MP Al-Shimaa Kweghir with her adopted daughters, the sisters Tindi and Bibiana. A year ago Bibiana was attacked while she was asleep by men with machetes who cut off her leg and two fingers. Al-Shimaa was made an MP by the Tanzanian president in a bid to stop the killings by giving a person with albinism visible status and respect within the country. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Bibiana Mbushi Mashamba is fitted for a prosthetic leg by Dr Rashidi at the CCBRT hospital. A year ago Bibiana was attacked while she was asleep by men with machetes who had paid off her uncle to let them into the house. Too afraid to go home she stayed in the hospital for a year until Al-Shimaa, a recently appointed MP, was moved to adopting her and her sister Tindi following an official visit to their hospital. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Dr Rashidi examines Bibiana Mbushi Mashamba's prosthetic leg at the CCBRT hospital, Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
On 21st February 2008, Mariam, a five year old girl with albinism, was murdered while she slept for her limbs to be used in witchdoctor medicine. She is buried inside the family house under the bed so no one can steal her bones. It is customary that people with albinism are not given public burials but are buried inside by women alone fuelling the superstitious belief that albinos don't die they just disappear. Misungwi, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam.