ABSTRACT

This chapter examines some significant negative existential issues faced by persons with albinism in their everyday lived experiences and how they can rise above them. It begins by examining how fear becomes an integral part of the existential ontology of a person with albinism in African societies due to established notions about her being within such places. It examines also how difficult it is for such a person to build courage and overcome that fear. It then examines how the major features of the deeply entrenched ideas about albinism — stigma, discrimination and isolation — result more often than not in the contemplation of suicide. It remains a difficult task for persons with albinism to find hope to stay strong and alive. This is followed by an examination of certain existential situations faced primarily by females with albinism due to beliefs and ideas about their beings that are engrained in African societies. This includes the issue of rape, which has been increasingly perpetrated on women with albinism in recent times. What becomes obvious from these analyses is that although a difficult task to achieve, the person with albinism can rise above the socially infused absurdities and arbitrariness of life. Many persons with albinism have risen above such representations and have made existence to be a meaningful one for themselves, earning respect and honour from members of their communities.