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Albino Talisman
They are totally white, yet they are pure African. Their bodies do not produce the melanin enzyme that gives color to skin and in turn protects it from UV rays. The first threat for them is the sun. Sunscreen is a luxury they do not have. Poverty, the lack of education and cancer puts many African albinos’ lives at risk. But the most horrific threat, mostly in Tanzania, is a macabre ‘black market’ that has been founded against them. Albino limbs, believed to act as talisman, are sold from five to twenty thousand dollars! Since December 2006, 56 albinos have lost their lives and others have been mutilated. Desperate fishermen and gold-diggers who want to bring money and good fortune into their lives, will not stop murdering these innocent victims; their witch doctors advise them to do so. On April 2009, I plunged deep into the centre of these crimes and have been living with albinos of Victoria Lake’ villages and city of Mwanza, Dar es Salam’ slum suburbs and schools where albino kids find a shelter.
My plans is to travel to Ikerewe island of lake Victoria, to find another family, victim of the witch – doctor’s clients, who took the woman’s hand to use is a talisman. She survives. And everybody owns to protest for her. Then, far away in a Victoria Lake’s village, , the racist criminals took not only the hands of a woman. They also took her daughter. And in another village, a victim’s grandfather buried the dead body of his 5 year old grandson in the house, to avoid the despoilment. In Geita, area of the gold-diggers, I want to continue my photo- reportage.
International press and public opinion should complain, protest and help for the cessation of this execrable crime and obligate Tanzania government to find solutions and stop it! Photographs by Maro Kouri

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ALBINO TALISMAN 08 6 years old, Ari Tamimu Rikele and his little cousin Aziza, left their birthplace Kilwa 300 km south of Dar El Salam, together with their half-albino, half-colored family, due to the social stigma. Superstitions are less in Dar Es Salam, but poverty and skin problems exhaust them Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 01MKR_0247196 Ziuazahau Rikele is a 22 year old mother of 2 year old twins Azizi and Aziza. They moved to Burahati, 12 km west of Dar El Salam, because of constant threats from locals in their isolated birthplace, the Coastal region of Kilwa. Even in Burahati, unknown people search for her, but until now, nobody has shown them the way. She begs for her income and she feeds her children fruits, wild vegetables and eggs. The net above the bed is necessary to protect her coloured children from malaria. This does not apply to her, as albinos do not suffer from the African illness. Her enemy is the sun that causes cancer very easily due to the lack of melanin. Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 02 The last two years that racists kill albinos, taking their limbs to use t s a witch-talisman, Mitindo Primary School for blind chilren of Misungwi, located 45 km southeast of Mwanza became a shelter for 95 albino kids. The school guardian preotects them day and night. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 03 Hawa Sahidi, a 20 year old albino woman lives in Mananya Mala, a very poor suburb of Dar Es Salaam with her colored mother, Habiba Ali. Every six moths, she visits Ocean Road Hospital in Dar to cure cancer. Superstitions are less near the capital. Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 04 St. Mary’s International School in Mwanza. Tindy, a 9 year old albino girl and her 11 year old albino sister, Viviana were both adopted by Mrs. Al Shaimaa, an albino member of the parliament after the criminal invasion of their home in Moshi of Kilimanjaro at the beginning of 2008. The invaders cut and took Viviana’s leg, in front of her sister’s eyes. Viviana is still afraid of men, and when the bell rings both sisters run to hide. In the black market of witch doctor’s, an albino’s limb is a talisman and costs over 10,000 US dollars. Criminals are uneducated, superstitious people who believe that albino’s limbs bring fortune to their fishing nets or to their gold mines. Mrs. Al Shaimaa pays for the two girls’ school. Viviana has an artificial leg which was implanted in Kilimanjaro KCMC hospital. Unfortunately, it is a small size. Police still search for the guilty parties. Tindy and Viviana are orphans. Their father was albino. They were living with their uncle. Their teacher, James Murkuk from Kenya, admires their progress in school. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 05 Viviana Moshi, an 11 year old witch doctor's victim is an orphan from Moshi of Kilimanjaro. In the middle of the night, an unknown witch doctor's client cut her leg to use it as a talisman. After that, she found shelter together with her 9 year old albino sister, Tindy, at St. Mary's School. They are both adopted by Mrs. Al Shaimaa, an albino member of the parliament. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 06 Albino and coloured blind children play together at Mitindo Primary School of Misungwi, located 45 km southeast of Mwanza. Mitindo is a school for blind children, but the last 2 years, became a shelter for albino children. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 07 Sahidi, a 4 year old boy visits the Albino Association’s office located inside the Ocean Road Cancer Hospital. His family in informed about the dangerous witchdoctors as also about ways to protect him from the sun that easily causes cancer to his skin Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_1147205 Mr. Mabula Fimbo Masalar, grandfather of a victim living in Mwanza region. The grave of the albino granddaughter is under the grandfather’s bed to avoid desecration. On the 20th of February 2008, a gang slaughtered 8 year old Maria Masala in order to use her legs for witchcraft. The brutal incident happened in the village of Nymikoma Bomani of Mwanza region. The previous day, someone sold to Mr. Mabula Fimbo Masala tobacco mixed with some drugs, which caused him to fall into a deep sleep. This was a trap, which did not allow him to fight back. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 09 The two albino survivors: 16 year old Semeni and 12 year old Sida, outside their hut in Segerema. In February 2009, five assassins invaded their hut and cut off the limbs of their 14 year old sister, Unis Luguisha who died. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri ALBINO TALISMAN 10 12 year old Sida lves in Segerema, 40 m west from Mwanza. In February 2009, five assassins invaded their hut and cut off the legs of her 14 year old albino sister Unis Luguisha who died later on. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_1447208 Mohamed Chanzi is the leader of Dar El Salaam albino’s branch. The albino population is 654 in this town. Some of them came from regions where there were threats of killings against albinos. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_1547209 Al Shaimaa Kwegyir, member of Tanzanian parliament, talks about the killings of the Albinos in the northern part of the country. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_1947213 Villagers dancing with snake in Mangu village of Mwanza region. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_4747241 12 year old Samuel Golani (or Libu), works after school as a golddigger in the village of Mgusu, west of Mwanza and Geita. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_4947243 Keisha Hadija Saban, a 22 year old albino pop star, says "cut the crap and take decisions” with her songs. Keisha, famous in Tanzania, has already two successful albums and is nominated for the Tanzanian Kilimanjaro music awards. Hadija Saban (her real name), gives live performances around the country but avoids visiting cities around the Lake zone because she is afraid for her life. Her songs are full of mango flavoured rhythms talking about albino’s rights, love and friendship. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_3647230 Both albino and coloured students inside a classroom of Mitindo Primary School of Misungwi district. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_3347227 Albino girl reading inside the Mitindo Primary School of Misungwi district, located 45 km southeast of Mwanza. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_3847232 An albino student and a coloured student hugging outside of their school, Mitindo Primary School of Misungwi district. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri MKR_3047224 Smiling albino girl who attends Mitindo Primary School of Misungwi district, located 45 km southeast of Mwanza. As of 2007, the school offers education and hospitality to more than 95 albino children. Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa © Maro Kouri
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