By Ijeoma Clare
A social media post has stirred backlash after a social media influencer shared an anonymous message revealing an elder sibling’s disapproval of their son’s relationship with a woman with albinism. The message, attributed to “J,” refers to albinism as a “curse” and expresses outrage at the potential relationship.
The message read:
“Hi J, so our last born has been posting one albino girl lately. When I got back from Abj, I asked him. Lol, this boy is serious, his girlfriend is an albino. I told him he will never have anything to do with her: “Over my dead body”, the boy said I should die? Who will ever allow his or her younger one to be with an albino when he is not cursed?”
The post quickly spread far and wide, followed by condemnation. Social media users were swift in their denunciation of the outdated and discriminatory beliefs surrounding albinism.
“No offense, but you’re the cursed one,” commented one user. “Still thinking like this in 2024?” “Albino are humans like every other person. Anyone can give birth to them, imagine you gave birth to one, and she’s been discriminated against, how do you feel?” echoed another.
Beyond condemnation, the post also sparked a crucial conversation about education. Ariya pointed out the lack of scientific understanding behind the prejudice, stating, “I think a lot of people need to know that albino is not a curse, it’s just lack of melanin that changes their colour.” This shows the need for continued efforts to educate the public about albinism as a genetic condition, not a supernatural phenomenon.
It is estimated that 1 in every 5,000 to 15,000 Africans has albinism, according to Africa Albinism Network, with select populations having estimates as high as 1 in 1,000.
In more than half of African countries, repressive actions against people with albinism have been widely documented. Hundreds of attacks, including murder, mutilations, grave robberies, sexual violence, kidnapping, and trafficking of persons and body parts, have been reported across 27 countries in the region.
People with albinism are often discriminated against on the grounds of colour and disability. According to reports of the UN independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, discrimination based on colour exacerbates the consequences of disability, particularly when there is a high degree of contrast between the skin colour of persons with albinism and that of the dominant population.
In addition, multiple forms of discrimination affect subgroups and individuals among people with albinism. For instance, people with albinism who are women and those affected by HIV/AIDS face aggravated discrimination. Therefore, an understanding of the challenges and identification of good practices to ensure the rights of people with albinism requires a holistic approach.
In the world today, the ongoing struggle for acceptance faced by people with albinism is discouraging, as reflected in the comment of another X user: “This is not funny. People living with albinism should stop being discriminated against. Instead of you educating the message owner, you’re adding a laughing emoji? In 2024? That’s why I say this country keeps going sideways.”
The backlash serves as a positive development in the fight for inclusivity. “I don’t like the way you describe her, is she not human enough to be loved? So only cursed people date albinos? Terrible mindset,” wrote another X user.
This shift in the conversation demonstrates the potential for social media to be a force for positive change.
A social media post by a social media influencer has incited controversy after sharing an anonymous message revealing an elder sibling’s disapproval of their son’s relationship with a woman with albinism, referring to it as a "curse" and expressing outrage. The post quickly garnered widespread condemnation, with social media users criticizing the outdated and discriminatory beliefs about albinism.
Commenters emphasized that albinism is not a curse but a genetic condition characterized by a lack of melanin. This incident highlights the ongoing need for public education about albinism and a broader understanding of the condition.
Statistics from the Africa Albinism Network indicate that 1 in every 5,000 to 15,000 Africans has albinism, and in some populations, the incidence is as high as 1 in 1,000. In more than half of African countries, repressive actions, including murder, mutilations, and other forms of violence, are documented against people with albinism, driven by discrimination related to color and disability.
The ongoing discrimination exacerbates the challenges for individuals with albinism, especially women and those with HIV/AIDS, necessitating a holistic approach to ensure their rights. The widespread backlash on social media underscores the urgent need for inclusivity and demonstrates the potential of social media as a catalyst for positive change in societal attitudes towards people with albinism.
