How education can stop deadly superstitious practices in Africa

Albinos have become the targets of gruesome killings in East Africa, where witch doctors believe that their body parts can be used as tokens of good luck. Since 2007, 44 albinos have been killed in Tanzania, and 14 other have been murdered in Burundi.

According to a report by the International Federation for the Red Cross and Crescent Societies, more than 10,000 albinos have either fled East Africa or went into hiding out of fear that they will become the next victim of the superstitious practice.

The market for Albino body parts mainly exists in Tanzania, where dealers can make up to $75,000 selling a complete dismembered set. Wealthy buyers use the parts as talismans to bring them wealth and good fortune.

The Associated Press reports that East Africa’s latest albino murder happened in Tanzania’s Mwanza region in late October, when albino hunters beheaded 10-year-old Gasper Elikana and chopped off his leg. The killing left Elikana’s father, who tried to defend his son, seriously injured.

There are many contradictions in Africa when it comes to Albinos. Although their body parts are considered good luck, African albinos endure insults, discrimination and segregation throughout their lives. Almost 90 percent of albinos living in the region were raised by single mothers, Maura said, because the fathers believed their wives were having affairs with white men.

Albinos are also forced to work outdoor jobs, where they are constantly exposed to sunlight. Since they have extremely light skin, they are prone to developing skin cancer.

Cenk Uygur and I discussed this story more on The Young Turks. We both agree that there is only one real solution to this problem: EDUCATION.

A few months ago, I wrote an article regarding the vast number of children who are killed in Nigeria because they are accused of practicing witchcraft. In the past decade more than 15,000 children have been denounced as witches in 2 of Nigeria’s 36 states. Around 1,000 of them became victims of murder because of this epidemic.

Some of the children are set on fire, buried alive, beaten with sticks, and forced to drink acid during the exorcisms. Family members find themselves bankrupt after paying their life savings to have religious pastors beat the “witch” out of their children.

It’s evident that deadly superstitious practices run rampant throughout Africa. It’s disheartening to know that people are dying due to ignorance to illogical practices. As mentioned before, education is the only way to enlighten people. Stories like this make me realize that the availability of information and education in the U.S. is not as terrible as it could be. Facts and studies are available to us, should we seek it. The same cannot be said for developing countries, and something needs to be done about that.