In the Tanzania Albino Society office, newspapers articles dealing with lately albino killings are pasted on the walls. Here one about Mariam Standord, 28 years, from the Kagera region. October 18th, 2008, was a nightmare for her...»They cut off her 2 arms !», explains Mathew Michael. «Theys cut us in pieces for that stupid witchdoctors and their rich clients who want to get always richer ! Even if it’s risky, poor people are doing the dirty work for 2000$ an albino arm. A real business. Sometimes people make fun of me in the streets and say: ‘we can get a lot of money with you, you know !’»

Ngeme Luhahula, 51 years old, prays every day on her daughter’s grave in Ilungu village. Vumilia Makoye was killed in front of her eyes at the age of 17 in Mai 2008. To avoid the grave pillage, she was burried on the same spot she was murdered: in her house, which was destroyed on top of the grave after burrial. The family built a new one just near the grave to protect it. Albino bodies have recently been plundered to remove arms and legs.The gouvernment is supposed to seal albino graves with cement but Ngeme is still waiting. Yussuf Elias, 26 years, lives also the same village in Lake Victoria Region, where witchcraft and albino killings are the highest. The village numbered 3 albino end 2007. In November 2007, Rebecca Machungwa, 10 years, was killed and her legs chopped off with a machete. Later, in Mai 2008 came Vumilia Makoye’s turn. Today, Yussuf is scared to death: «I’m the next on the list ! Since Vumilia’s death, I always carry my whistle in my pocket...it’s my only protection.»

Yussuf Elias, 26 years, lives in Ilungu in the Lake Victoria Region, where witchcraft and albino killings are the highest. His village numbered 3 albino end 2007. In November 2007, Rebecca Machungwa, 10 years, was killed and her legs chopped off with a machete. Then, in Mai 2008 came Vumilia Makoye’s turn. She was 17 years. Today, Yussuf is scared to death: «I’m the next on the list ! Since Vumilia’s death, I always carry my whistle in my pocket...it’s my only protection.»

Juma Ramazani, 38 years, is a farmer from Tabora. To save his life, doctors from the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar-es-Salaam cut off his left arm. It could have been for witchcraft, but that time they did burn the tumoured part to prevent from thieves...»How will i do to keep on working in my fields?»...He still lives with his parents. The Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar-es-Salaam is the only place in Tanzania where they treat cancer. Albino life expectancy in only 30 years...

In Tanzania, in the Lake Victoria area, witchdoctors are very popular and respected by many tribes and especially Sukumas. Over 80% of the people visit witchdoctors for treatment against cancer, AIDS or to find love...or to get rich, which is the main reason they need albino body parts. Since 2007, over 45 albino have been killed and mainly children. A leg, an arm or albino blood is worth 2000$ each...that means an albino body is worth10 000 for a male and even 12 000 $ for a female. Rocket high prices that gives over 10 years of a farmer’s salary. Witchdoctors use the body parts to make magic powders, potions to locate gold. Rich businessmen visit them after buying a mining land...Since they don’t have albino body parts, witchdoctor can arrange to get one for 2000$. Vicky Ntetema from the BBC did an undercover investigation with a hidden video camera and got that offer. She brought it on air and since then witchdoctors and even some State Ministers want to kill her...not that surprising: they are also visiting witchdoctors before elections. Mohamed Maulid is a witchdoctor from Mburahati village, about 30km from Dar-es-Salaam. He admits that some «Sukuma collegues» use albino bodyparts but only in the Mwanza region. He adds: «I’m not a Sukuma and I don’t agree with them»

Bibiana Mbushi (10 years) experienced hell a night of January 2008. After her parents death (AIDS), she was adopted with her 2 sisters (Tindi - 7 years and also albino - and Sikujuwa) by her ant but her uncle was very unpleased. An albino brings shame on the family and is felt like a holly punishment. When he got a chance to sell them, he took it. Begining January 2008, at 10pm, three men armed with a machete and a torch entered the children house and told the children that they are from the police and that they had to take something. Bibiana was the first to be in the light ray - luckily they didn’t know that two girls were albino - and one man ran over her and quickly choped her right leg and 2 fingers off. All children, petrified, started to cry...Tindi, hidden in the drakness told me she did see a man leaving the house with her sister’s leg on his shoulder. The uncle was arrested and put in jail but the 3 murderers are still free. Bibiana is one of the only albino that survived such an attack thanks to an ambulance from the geita hospital. While visiting Bibiana in the hospital, albino MP Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir decided to adopt her and her 2 sisters. They are now in a School near Mwanza. Tindi has already many friends but Bibiana is still very shy and fear to be sold again...

Bibiana Mbushi (10 years) experienced hell a night of January 2008. After her parents death (AIDS), she was adopted with her 2 sisters (Tindi - 7 years and also albino - and Sikujuwa) by her ant but her uncle was very unpleased. An albino brings shame on the family and is felt like a holly punishment. When he got a chance to sell them, he took it. Begining January 2008, at 10pm, three men armed with a machete and a torch entered the children house and told the children that they are from the police and that they had to take something. Bibiana was the first to be in the light ray - luckily they didn’t know that two girls were albino - and one man ran over her and quickly choped her right leg and 2 fingers off. All children, petrified, started to cry...Tindi, hidden in the drakness told me she did see a man leaving the house with her sister’s leg on his shoulder. The uncle was arrested and put in jail but the 3 murderers are still free. Bibiana is one of the only albino that survived such an attack thanks to an ambulance from the geita hospital. While visiting Bibiana in the hospital, albino MP Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir decided to adopt her and her 2 sisters. They are now in a School near Mwanza. Tindi has already many friends but Bibiana is still very shy and fear to be sold again...

In Tanzania, in the Lake Victoria area, witchdoctors are very popular and respected by many tribes and especially Sukumas. Over 80% of the people visit witchdoctors for treatment against cancer, AIDS or to find love...or to get rich, which is the main reason they need albino body parts. Since 2007, over 45 albino have been killed and mainly children. A leg, an arm or albino blood is worth 2000$ each...that means an albino body is worth10 000 for a male and even 12 000 $ for a female. Rocket high prices that gives over 10 years of a farmer’s salary. Witchdoctors use the body parts to make magic powders, potions to locate gold. Rich businessmen visit them after buying a mining land...Since they don’t have albino body parts, witchdoctor can arrange to get one for 2000$. Vicky Ntetema from the BBC did an undercover investigation with a hidden video camera and got that offer. She brought it on air and since then witchdoctors and even some State Ministers want to kill her...not that surprising: they are also visiting witchdoctors before elections. Mohamed Maulid is a witchdoctor from Mburahati village, about 30km from Dar-es-Salaam. He admits that some «Sukuma collegues» use albino bodyparts but only in the Mwanza region. He adds: «I’m not a Sukuma and I don’t agree with them»

Ngasamo gold mine has been worked by Germans up to World War 2. A terrible water-flood killed over 200 workers in the mine, which was closed right away. In the 1990’s, businessmen bought some land and restarted mining but in a traditionnal way. They went to witchdoctors to get information on the digging places and then on the direction they have to dig to find as much gold as possible. Unfortunately, witchdoctors need albino blood, leg or arm for that...If the man doesn’t have one, the witchdoctor can fix that for 2000$. An albino body is worth up to 10 000$ (including blood, worth also 2000$). Vicky Ntetema, BBC reporter, brought it to air after an undercover investigation as a business woman. «Witchdoctors share albino body parts in their East Africa network, and work with corrupted policemen», reveals Vicky. «Politicians and even the Minister of Home Affairs seems to take part in it !» She is now death threated by witchdoctors and even politicians...The Minister of Home Affairs told her in a plane in front of albino MP and a Canadian-Norwegian delegation: «Shame on you ! You brought shame on your country !»

In Tanzania, in the Lake Victoria region, witchdoctors recommend to throw albino hair in fishnets to get more fish. In Igombe, near Mwanza, some fishermen follow that principle and say that it works. They get or buy albino hair from hairdressers... The Nile perch has been introduced in the lake 50 years ago and can weight up to 100kg. Most villagers don’t have boats and they use huge nets, that they pull from and to the shore in 2 groups...one on each side.

Ali Omali (25 years) lives in Vikindu, a village 50 km away from Dar-es-Salaam, and refuses to rely on people’s generosity... Unlike many albino, he’s not begging and prefers to work hard and earn his own money by working in his fields. Now cousins and uncles are asking him for help !! A lesson for life. Ali has a black girlfriend and a little non-albino girl. He plans to marry soon. That’s why he work so hard, often after lunch when the sun is worst, and without sun cream...it’s too expensive. Albino life expectancy is around 30 years.

Gaston Mcheka, 34 years, is a freelance journalist and lives with his wife Pamela, also albino, and their 3 children (Viktor, Isaac and Joshua) in a little house in a poor Dar-es-Salaam suburb. The children are all black because their parents have 2 different type of albinism (Type 1 and 2). Those 2 genes are recessive. Some months back, a tumour appeared...skin cancer. He knows that his days are now numbered. Gaston is also General Secretary for the «Albino United», the Dar-es-Salaam albino soccer team. They have 6 trainings per week on a field near the Ocean Road Cancer Institute and TAS office (Tanzania Albino Society). Every weekend they play games and the last one against the Aga Khan’s team was a huge victory: 7-0.

Barak Focus, 11 years, belongs to Bugollo village in the Mwanza area. Lately 4 albino from his village have been killed. His father, Murungu, took him and his best friend for a 16h bus journey to Dar-es-Salaam to get some treatment for his skin cancer. Barak serenity contrasts with his father’s fear: «I knew he was not supposed to go in the sun but he always ran out !» The Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar-es-Salaam is the only place in Tanzania that can help him but his father knows that his life is almost over. Albino life expectancy in only 30 years...

Esta Rafael, 29 years, comes from Tabora for a treatment against her skin cancer. The Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar-es-Salaam is the only place in Tanzania that can help her but she knows that her life is almost over. Albino life expectancy in only 30 years...

Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir, the albino MP nominated by the tanzanian President, organized with the Egyptian Embassy a lunch for around 200 Albino in Dar-es-Salaam March 25th, 2009. Sun cream, hats, shirts have been given to all albino to protect them from the sun. Because of their skin color and their vision problems, they are excluded and few have a real job. To help them coming to the meeting, each albino got 2000 Tsh (about 1,5$) for bus fares.

Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir, the albino MP nominated by the tanzanian President, organized with the Egyptian Embassy a lunch for around 200 Albino in Dar-es-Salaam March 25th, 2009. Sun cream, hats, shirts have been given to all albino to protect them from the sun. Because of their skin color and their vision problems, they are excluded and few have a real job. To help them coming to the meeting, each albino got 2000 Tsh (about 1,5$) for bus fares. The MP gives a hat to Dunia Sultan, general secretary of AMIT (Albino Mungano Investment Trust). He was attacked less than a week ago (March 20th, 2009) by 6 armed men at 8.30pm. «I did run as fast as I could and I was very lucky...a bullet choped off my left ear...but its not much !», explains Dunia.

Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir, the albino MP nominated by the tanzanian President, organized with the Egyptian Embassy a lunch for around 200 Albino in Dar-es-Salaam March 25th, 2009. Sun cream, hats, shirts have been given to all albino to protect them from the sun. Because of their skin color and their vision problems, they are excluded and few have a real job. To help them coming to the meeting, each albino got 2000 Tsh (about 1,5$) for bus fares.

Japhet Felix dresses his son Camillius, 3 years, under his wife’s eyes. For albino men it is rare to see tanned hair, Japhet is an exception. He feels better like that. With their boy, they live in Kiwalani, a poor Dar-es-Salaam suburb near the airport. Japhet is a construction worker and Agnellar make colorful scarfs.

Pamela, 29 years, is married with Gaston Mcheka, 34 years and also albino. They live with their 3 children (Viktor, Isaac and Joshua) in a little house in poor Dar-es-Salaam suburbs. The children are all black because their parents have 2 different type of albinism (Type 1 and 2). Those 2 genes are recessive. A difficult life but still happy: she likes to tan her hair in black...»I’m more beautiful like that !»

The TAS headquarter (Tanzania Albino Society) in Dar-es-Salaam is based in shaby 2-room-office in the entrance building of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute. Most of his members have skin cancer problems...The chairman, Ernest Kimaya, is typing a letter while a meeting is held with the Ziada Msembo, the General Secretary. The society is mainly supported by NGO - only 2% of the meager budget is provided by the Government. TAS is representing the Albino and organizes meetings to promote the use of sun cream,...but the corruption is too high. Another NGO, «Under the Same Sun», founded by a rich canadian albino, Peter Ash, just opened its Tanzania doors and should be able to give better help to albino.

«Under the Same Sun» has been founded by a rich canadian albino, Peter Ash (left, with his brother), to help people having albinism worldwide. End 2008, he heard about the albino killings in Tanzania and decided to do something. He called Samuel Mluge (back), who was at the time General Secretary of the Tanzania Albino Society, and they decided to open an office in Dar-es-Salaam. He is since April 2nd, 2009, chairman and Josephat Torner (right), vice chairman. The NGO’s goal is to help Albino in Tanzania: provide sun cream, shirts, hats,...and help albino children to go to school.

After school, Lulu Hassani (11 years) helps her friend Happy Thobias (14) to go back to the dormitory. The Dar-es-Salaam Salvation Army has a school for diseabled children. They accepted few months ago 2 albinos girls thanks to the new NGO, «Under the Same Sun», founded by a rich canadian albino, Peter Ash.

Tatu Fadhili (12 years) with her new friend, Rehema Selemani (15), near the dining hall from the Dar-es-Salaam Salvation Army School for diseabled children. They accepted few months ago 2 albinos girls (Tatu Fadhili, 12 years, and Lulu Hassani, 11 years) thanks to the new NGO, «Under the Same Sun», founded by a rich canadian albino, Peter Ash.

Mitindo Primary School, 40km from Mwanza, welcomes 96 albino and 46 blind children for a total of 1200 kids. Unique in Tanzania, albino children come from all over the country. Since albino have all vision problems, they take the first row. It’s a government school but is mainly sponsored by International NGO (Caritas, Rotary, Lion’s Club,...). It’s still not enough: most of classrooms are empty...no table, no bench, just concrete floor. The albino dormitory has lately been furnished by NGOs with mosquito nets and mattresses.

Mitindo Primary School, 40km from Mwanza, welcomes 96 albino and 46 blind children for a total of 1200 kids. Unique in Tanzania, albino children come from all over the country. Since albino have all vision problems, they take the first row. It’s a government school but is mainly sponsored by International NGO (Caritas, Rotary, Lion’s Club,...). It’s still not enough: most of classrooms are empty...no table, no bench, just concrete floor. The albino dormitory has lately been furnished by NGOs with mosquito nets and mattresses.

In Dar-es-Salaam, near the Ocean Road Cancer Institut, unique place in Tanzania for cancer treatment, the «Albino United» soccer team trains 6 days a week. The team manager, Oscar Haule, and his brother John, official coach, are both black. Every weekend they play games and the last one against the Aga Khan’s team was a huge victory: 7-0.

Agnellar, 29 year, look after her son Camillius, 3 years, who plays in the court yard. With her albino husband, Japhet Felix, it’s their first child. They live in Kiwalani, a poor Dar-es-Salaam suburb near the airport. Japhet is a construction worker and Agnellar make colorful scarfs.

Japhet Felix, 29 years, takes a walk with his son Camillius, 3 years. For albino men it is rare to see tanned hair, Japhet is an exception. He feels better like that. With his albino wife Agnellar, they live in Kiwalani, a poor Dar-es-Salaam suburb near the airport. Japhet is a construction worker and Agnellar make colorful scarfs.

Mitindo Primary School, 40km from Mwanza, welcomes 96 albino and 46 blind children for a total of 1200 kids. Unique in Tanzania, albino children come from all over the country. Since albino have all vision problems, they take the first row. It’s a government school but is mainly sponsored by International NGO (Caritas, Rotary, Lion’s Club,...). It’s still not enough: most of classrooms are empty...no table, no bench, just concrete floor. The albino dormitory has lately been furnished by NGOs with mosquito nets and mattresses.

Tatu Fadhili (12 years) is doing very well in her new class. The Dar-es-Salaam Salvation Army School for diseabled children accepted few months ago 2 albinos girls (Tatu Fadhili, 12 years, and Lulu Hassani, 11 years) thanks to the new NGO, «Under the Same Sun», founded by a rich canadian albino, Peter Ash. Since April 2009 they have a new office in Dar-es-Salaam.