The 'ghost people' of Tanzania: The albino community who live in fear of being hunted down and hacke

[BOB OS]

• These incredible black and white images offer a window into Tanzania's persecuted and hunted albino community
• In parts of the country, albinos are killed or mutilated due to witch doctors' beliefs their body parts are magical
• Italian Claudio Simunno, 35, photographed the community at orphanages and villages during a trip in November

By Corey Charlton for MailOnline
Published: 10:42 GMT, 18 February 2016 | Updated: 11:06 GMT, 18 February 2016

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These incredible black and white photographs offer a rare window into the hidden life of Tanzania's 'ghost people' - the country's persecuted albinos who are hunted down and mutilated for their body parts.
In some parts of the country, albino hunters brutally hack off the hair, arms, legs, skin, eyes, and genitals of their victims - abandoning them dead or alive - because these body parts are used in witch doctors' spells and potions.
Albinos represent one in every approximately 1,400 births in Tanzania - the largest proportion in all of Africa - and stems from a genetic condition caused by a reduction in melanin, the pigment which colours skin, hair and eyes.

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A young albino boy in Tanzania rests on a seat with his arms behind his head at one of the country's homes for children with the condition

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A man suffering from the rare condition, which leads to persecution in Tanzania and other African countries, smiles for a photograph

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A young boy with albinism poses for a photograph next to a friend who does not carry the genetic condition

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Albinism is triggered by a lack of melanin - the pigment which colours the body's eyes, skin and hair

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A young albino child, photographed at one of the retreats set up to protect the community, plays with a drinking mug

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A woman with only one arm (left) and a small child (right) pose for photographs. Albinos are often attacked, killed or mutilated in Tanzania due to a belief their body parts contain magical properties

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A group of albino children play together at an orphanage that is protected by a surrounding high wall and barbed wire

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Albino children at the orphanage are able to carry out school work and their education without fear of being attacked

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A group of children sit on a top bunk together at the orphanage safe from being attacked by people hoping to use their body parts in witch doctors' spells and potions
Italian photographer Claudio Simunno captured the poignant images of the African country's albino community - known as the zeruzeru in Swahili - during a visit in November last year.
Mr Simunno, 35, said: 'I decided to visit Tanzania because I wanted to photograph the ghost people. Poverty and ignorance lead people in rural east Africa to take refuge in a superstition that believes albinos are magical beings.

 

[BOB OS]

'In some areas they are seen as a punishment of the gods or a carrier of the evil eye. In other places their body parts are used as talismans or ingredients to create potions to heal illnesses and bring good luck in business.
Because of these beliefs albinos are victims of attacks, killings and mutilations. Some also believe having sexual intercourse with an albino can cure AIDS - a belief which often leads to rapes, even against children.'
Albinism causes extremely pale hair, skin and eyes, eyesight problems and sensitivity to light.
While globally it affects approximately one in 20,000 people, in Tanzania and other parts of east Africa that figure is much higher, likely a result of consanguinity.
Mr Simunno spent 20 days in the Shinyanga region of Tanzania, visiting many village with large numbers of albino residents and an orphange set up for albino children fleeing persecution.
Mr Simunno, who lives in Savona in northern Italy with his wife and works as an electronics technician, first became passionate about photography during a visit to Africa six years ago.
He said: 'During my trip I learned more about the difficulties people less fortunate than myself face every day. People who have seen my images were impressed because many do not know about the existence of albinism in Africa, and therefore were intrigued.'
To see more of Claudio's photography go to Albenga Photography 2016 or Organizzazione safari fotografici in Tanzania e Kenya - vendita foto africa

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An albino woman sits at a desk where she undertakes her daily work. Albinism causes extremely pale hair, skin and eyes

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The condition also causes a eyesight problems and a sensitivity to light. Pictured in an albino woman bathing a small child

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Albinos represent one in every approximately 1,400 births in Tanzania - the largest proportion of any African country

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Children in the orphanage play together in this poignant photograph of Africa's often harassed and persecuted albino community

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Witch doctors believe albinos' body parts contain magical properties and their use in potions fuels attacks and persecution

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Two teenagers at the orphanage do their homework together while sitting in a hallway in the safe camp

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Italian photographer Claudio Simunno captured the poignant images of the African country's albino community during a trip last year

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An albino man poses with his family, none of whom suffer from the rare condition

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Albinos are known as 'ghost people' in Tanzania due to their appearance. However, they are persecuted and often mutilated or killed

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A young boy stares at the camera while sitting between the legs of a carer in a small village in Tanzania

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The photographs of the albino community (left) were taken by Italian photographer Claudio Simunno (right)