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Title White African's Burden
Full text http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/26828
Date 2015
Author(s) Autrup, Kasper; Andersen Glargaard, Mathias; Wendt, Maria Bay; Ndigaye, Rachel Faith
Contributor(s) Komlavi, Eric
Abstract Abstract This study illuminates the ongoing stigmatization of albinos in Tanzania conceived by society. The impact of the history of belief and tradition in Tanzania is a big part of the ongoing stigmatization of albinos. Related to this is the colonisation of Tanzania, which has led to the division of religious convictions, yet the witchdoctors have maintained their authority among many Tanzanians. Their authority has a great impact on the stigma of albinism being generated in contemporary Tanzania, which leaves albinos persecuted and isolated. This is elaborated in the very beginning of the project in order to ensure that the latter chapters are digested with a knowledge of the fundamentals of their society. It contains an analysis of theories made by Emilé Durkheim and Erving Goffman who have, on some levels, contrasting approaches to the subject of stigma. In researching and gaining a larger understanding of the underlying issues related to stigma, it gains nuanced motives in comparison to the one dimensional view it, sometimes, is related to. Despite of the influence of dominating religions such as Christianity and Islam, ancient beliefs and rituals still shape and control contemporary Tanzania. With practises like human sacrifice and witchcraft, the criminal acts against albinos have had a distinct rise, even though the unethicality of the injustice seems apparent. These beliefs do not only support the stigma, it furthers its geographic range, as it has spread not only to the rural areas, but also exists in the bigger cities including people who are considered less primitive. Stigma is a rather complex subject due to the endless angles and approaches that it can contain. In the following chapters some of these angles will be illuminated, though solely with relevance to the case study of albinos.
Subject(s) Stigma; Albino; Tanzania; Authority; Belief; Tradition
Language en
Type of publication Thesis; Samfundsvidenskabelig international basisuddannelse (SIB) / International Basic Studies in Social Sciences
Repository Roskilde - Roskilde University Digital Archive (RUDAR)
Added to C-A: 2016-04-18;09:19:43