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A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

In Africa, Albino Body Parts Are Sold for Witchcraft and Profit

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📁 albinism witchcraft Africa 📁 albino killings Tanzania Malawi 📁 Gothic African Folklore

In Africa, Albino Body Parts Are Sold for Witchcraft and Profit

Selling albino body parts for witchcraft in Africa

African albinos are killed, dismembered, and even exhumed because charms made from their body parts are believed to bring good luck, fortune, and money.

Myths and Violence Against Persons With Albinism

Women with albinism in Tanzania, Burundi, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mozambique are often targets of sexual violence due to the false belief that intercourse with them can cure HIV/AIDS or bring wealth. This exposes them to assault, sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies.

Infanticide also occurs: infants born with albinism are sometimes killed as they are viewed as a curse. Witchcraft-related demand for body parts fuels trafficking, mutilations, and grave robberies. Since 2006, UN reports document over 600 ritual attacks across 28 African countries.

Did you know? Tanzania has one of the largest populations of people with albinism worldwide — about 170,000.

The Witchcraft Trade

Witchcraft practices known as muti or juju fuel the belief that albino body parts bring wealth, protection, or political power. People with albinism are hunted for their limbs, heads, and organs, which can sell for thousands on the black market.

In Tanzania alone, more than 70 people with albinism have been killed since 2000. Attacks spike during elections when demand for charms allegedly linked to power and prosperity grows.

Tanzanian mother and her albino child
Tanzanian mother and her albino child

Gendered Impact: Women and Mothers

Women with albinism suffer overlapping discrimination. Myths about HIV cures make them vulnerable to sexual violence. Mothers of children with albinism often face rejection, ostracism, and poverty; they may be abandoned by partners accused of infidelity or blamed for bearing a "cursed" child.

Did you know? Many mothers flee their communities to protect children with albinism from violence and social stigma.

What Is Albinism?

Albinism is a genetic condition caused by mutations in at least 12 known genes. It results in little or no melanin, leaving skin, hair, and eyes light and sensitive to sunlight. Two main types exist: Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA) affects skin, hair, and eyes, while Ocular Albinism (OA) primarily affects the eyes.

Lack of melanin increases the risk of skin cancer and severe sunburn, especially in regions with strong sunlight. Average life expectancy is significantly reduced when protective care is unavailable.

Ukerewe Island community of people with albinism in Tanzania
Ukerewe Island, Tanzania — home to a large albinism community

Changing the Narrative

Documentaries such as In the Shadow of the Sun spotlight the courage of people with albinism fighting for their rights and safety. Activists like Josephat Torner in Tanzania continue to challenge myths and demand legal protection.

Did you know? The UN officially recognizes persons with albinism as a vulnerable group needing special human rights protection.

Explore more African history and culture:

Mental Health Connection: Explore how culture and compulsion merge in Night Running in Africa: Tribal Art, Witchcraft, or Sadism — a story linking traditional beliefs with mental wellness in Kenya.

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.