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Religion Amidst the Killings of Albino Persons in Tanzania



Author(s)

Elia Shabani Mligo

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2177/2014.04.004

University of Iringa

Tanzania is one of the so-called “developing countries” in Africa. According to the census of 2012, the country has a population of more than 44 million people. Albinos persons (people with skin impairment) are included within this population. In these days, the Tanzanian society witnesses dreadful killings of people with albinism just for cultural and traditional reasons. The major claim purported by killers is mostly economic, that some organs of people with albinism can be used by business people to acquire more profits in their businesses. Following this reason, people with albinism live in a very suspicious life because most of them have been hunted and murdered. Their human dignity has been jeopardized in favor of material wealth. Since scarce researches, if any, have been conducted in regard to the role of religion towards the dignity and value of people with albinism in areas of theology and religion, this paper provokes theologians and scholars in various professions towards discussing and analyzing critically the role of religion in the midst of horrible incidences of violence facing people with albinism. The major question is the following: How does religion deal with differences in the Tanzanian society to promote human dignity and mutual life among people despite their differences?

Albinism, albino persons, human violence, religion, human dignity, difference