Malawi's albinos beat the blues

Musician Geoffrey 'Yellowman' Zigoma (left) has beaten the odds to become a success

By Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre

Malawi's albinos are discriminated against. People are suspicious of their pale skin and yellow hair.

The condition is the result of the lack of the skin pigment, melanin. But some fear that their condition is contagious.

In Malawi, albinos are now taking it upon themselves to calm people's fears. After two years of trying, they have just registered their organisation - the Albino Association of Malawi (AAM).

"We want to clamour for recognition, to be accepted by society, because we are also human beings," Tony Mkwapatira Nyumayo, a member of AAM, told me.

Not enough money

Albinos tend to have poor eyesight, which can be improved with special glasses to deal with retinal problems. Unfortunately, they are very expensive.

We want to clamour for recognition... because we are also are human beings

Tony Nyumayo
AAM member

The AAM intends to lobby the government to help provide these glasses, which can dramatically improve an albino's quality of life.

In the AAM constitution, albinos are demanding - among other things - the end of discrimination in workplaces and institutions like hospitals and schools.

They also want the government to provide ointments to protect their skin, as well as special clothing and hats to protect them from direct sunlight.

Vulnerable skin

Leonard Mawaya, a dermatologist with the Ministry of Health, said the AAM's demands are not outrageous. Skin cancer, caused by the sun, is the biggest killer of albinos.

We know parents are psychologically affected when they have albino children... we will try to take away that stigma

Leonard Mawaya
dermatologist

Mawaya said that plans are afoot to establish special albino health care units to treat the specific needs of albinos.

He said these clinics, apart from medical help, will also sensitise communities on how to look after albino children.

"We know parents are psychologically affected when they have albino children so in these clinics we will try to take away that stigma and impress upon people that albinos, too, have opportunities for a better future," he said, adding that similar clinics have proved successful in neighbouring Tanzania.

But some of Malawi's albinos have succeeded against the odds. One of Malawi's best-selling musicians at the moment is Geoffrey 'Yellowman' Zigoma - an albino.

Another up-and-coming musician, gospel crooner Roy 'Roy K' Kwelepeta, is a proud holder of a agriculture degree.

That is in addition to cutting two sensational gospel albums.