Contest in Nairobi aimed at fighting back against persecution in east Africa, where albino body parts are sold on black market, the Daily Maverick reports

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

With its evening gowns, celebrity judges and tears of joy, this beauty pageant in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, was like many others – except for one thing: all 20 contestants had albinism.

Titled Beauty Beyond Skin, the world’s first albino pageant was designed to celebrate people who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes, and to fight the widespread persecution of albinos in east Africa.

Ten women and 10 men modelled the latest fashions at the event as they competed for the title of Mr and Miss Albinism Kenya in front of a crowd of about 1,000 people, including the deputy president William Ruto.

The contestants used the occasion to petition the government to better recognise and respect their condition. Some dressed up as army officers, waiters and police officers to highlight that albinos belong in every part of society.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Billed by organisers as the first pageant of its kind, young albino men and women competed for the title of Miss and Mr Albinism Kenya. Photograph: Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

But the event was also about fashion: some outfits were crafted from materials such as cement bags, balloons, paper bags, doormats, cotton wool and CDs, showcasing creativity and individual style.

Loyce Lihanda, who was crowned Miss Albinism Kenya, said: “For so long albinos have been treated as half-humans because they [are] different. In turn this has affected our self-esteem and the ability to utilise and explore our skills and talents.

“We come from a mentality that we cannot achieve what ‘normal’ people can because we are different. Yet time has proven that we can excel.”

In Kenya, albinism is a highly stigmatised condition. The biggest threat to people with the condition is the trade in albino body parts – used in traditional medicine and believed to bring good luck and financial and political gain – on the black market.

In neighbouring Tanzania, at least 75 children and adults with albinism have been killed since 2000, and more than 62 others have escaped with severe injuries after attacks by people seeking to supply witch doctors thought to pay up to $75,000 (£61,500) for a full set of body parts.

Last year more than 35 albinos were evacuated from towns near the Kenya-Tanzania border after an increase in ritual killings, allegedly linked to politicians hoping to be elected.

Isaac Mwaura, Kenya’s first and only albino MP, said Kenyans needed to change their attitude towards albinos, and pointed out that the celebration marked 10 years of campaigning by the Albinism Society of Kenya.

“A time is coming when we will have people with albinism serving in the army and police force. We already have some in the National Youth Service, and this is a milestone in achieving inclusion despite the difference in skin colour,” he said.

“We have come to say that people with disability are beautiful people. We can have the names ‘beautiful’, ‘handsome’ and ‘albinism’ in one society.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Contestants pose on stage during a pageant hosted by the Albinism Society of Kenya. Photograph: Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

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Ruto said the government would work with albinos to ensure their safety. “The dream of every child is valid, and it does not matter [what] their skin colour [is],” he said.

Ruto said the government had earmarked various benefits for albinos, including a 100m Kenyan shillings (£807,500) drive for sunscreen, special sunglasses and tax breaks.

The Albinism Society of Kenya chair, Alex Munyere, said more needed to be done to dispel myths about the condition. He said intimidation and harassment had serious repercussions in the lives of many albinos, leading to trauma and, in extreme cases, suicide.

“People with albinism suffer a lot of stigma and grow up without parents,” Munyere said. “If we can appreciate them more, we can break the cycle of low self-esteem and help them achieve their dreams.”

A version of this article first appeared on the Daily Maverick