Tanzania's first elected albino MP
How Salum Barwany overcame discrimination and fear to make history in Africa
How opposition politician Salum Barwany overcame discrimination and fear to become the first albino elected to office in Tanzania in 2010. Albinism is a genetic condition caused by a lack of the pigment Melanin, which affects the colour of the skin, hair and eyes. Though rare it is more common in parts of Africa, and particularly in Tanzania. There, albinos have long faced social stigma but in recent years many have been brutally murdered. The killings are carried out to harvest their body parts for witchdoctors who claim they can be used in magic potions to bestow wealth. Salum Barwany MP talks about growing up with albinism and his struggle to change attitudes. This episode is produced by Alex Last and Esther Namuhisa
Photo: Tanzania's first elected albino lawmaker Salum Khalfan Barwany gets a hug from a supporter as he walks through the town market in Lindi, just days after winning office in 2010. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
- Mon 20 Dec 2021 08:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Mon 20 Dec 2021 12:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Mon 20 Dec 2021 18:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 20 Dec 2021 23:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 21 Dec 2021 03:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
Featured in...
African history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes
Podcast
-
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there