We discussed in class a few weeks ago the issue of Africans' continuing belief in witchcraft. In my article, supposed "witch doctors" were to blame for mass killings of Albinos in Burundi and Tanzania. These Albinos were killed for their body parts. It was rumored that those in possession of these body parts would become wealthy. The murderers admitted they intended to sell these body parts for profit in Tanzania.
This article provokes many questions. How desperate must one be to sell body parts for money? How gullible and cut off from the outside world must one be to believe that witchcraft could bring about wealth? And how weak is the police system in Tanzania that 26 Albinos would be murdered in the course of just one year? And even more, is this based on the culture in Burundi and Tanzania, or the sheer desperate situation of their inhabitants?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7649420.stm
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3 comments:
This article shows the desperation of the people in Africa. They are killing people in belief it will lead to material wealth. This is a reflection of how "cut-off" most of Africa is from the modern world. People still believe they can achieve certain goals through potions and magic.
Not only is the lack of globalization to blame, but Africa officials also must be blamed. There should not have been 26 deaths in less than a year of albino people. Leaders must stop the violence before it happens.
This article was very disturbing. First of all, murdering is horrible anyway, but selling off body parts is so disgusting and wrong. I wonder if these people believe that one kinda of body part is more "lucky" than another. Like, a big toes is better than a pinky toe... gross I don't even like thinkging about it! What is the governement going to do about this?
This is such a sad article. People with albinism already feel different and alienated from others, and now they have to fear for their lives. It's so disturbing that those people's arms and legs were taken. I agree with the others in asking what is the government doing to help these people? It said in the article that police were protecting them, but obviously not very well if there have been 26 killings. It's just amazing to me that these people will kill others just for money, luck, and witchcraft.
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