Africa
In Zimbabwe, modern folklore posits that sexual intercourse with an albinistic person will cure one of HIV, leading to the rape (and subsequent HIV infection) of women with albinism in that region.
In Tanzania in 2008, President Kikwete publicly condemned witch doctors for opportunistic persecution of albinism, including a spate of murders of albinistic people (over 50 since March 2007, as of October 2008, and initially limited to Tanzania) for their body parts which are thought to bring good luck – hair, arms, legs and blood are used to make potions which the witchdoctors claim will bring prosperity. Consequently, graves of the albinistic have to be sealed with cement to discourage grave robbers.]] By June 2008 killings had been reported in neighboring Kenya and possibly also the Democratic Republic of Congo, spreading to Burundi by October 2008. (See Persecution of people with albinism for more information.)
Read more about this topic: Albinism In Popular Culture, Folklore, Urban Legends and Myths
Famous quotes containing the word africa:
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