SANDRA LAING
Cases of the melanism which affects Johnny Strowger are much less common than albinism. The best known is that of Sandra Laing, born in Piet Retief in South Africa in 1955. Both Sandra's parents were white, as were her grandparents and great-grandparents, but she was black. If that was not affliction enough, she was born into apartheid South Africa, in which much of the daily lives of the population was segregated according to race.
In 2006 Sandra's life was made into a film, Skin.
ALBINISM IN MORE DETAIL:
The word “albinism” refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. They have inherited altered genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. One person in 17,000 in the U.S.A. has some type of albinism. Albinism affects people from all races. Most children with albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds. Sometimes people do not recognize that they have albinism. A common myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. In fact there are different types of albinism and the amount of pigment in the eyes varies. Although some individuals with albinism have reddish or violet eyes, most have blue eyes. Some have hazel or brown eyes. However, all forms of albinism are associated with vision problems.
Much more information here.
The word “albinism” refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. They have inherited altered genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. One person in 17,000 in the U.S.A. has some type of albinism. Albinism affects people from all races. Most children with albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds. Sometimes people do not recognize that they have albinism. A common myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. In fact there are different types of albinism and the amount of pigment in the eyes varies. Although some individuals with albinism have reddish or violet eyes, most have blue eyes. Some have hazel or brown eyes. However, all forms of albinism are associated with vision problems.
Much more information here.
Black Mongoose features two men who have genetic inheritances which make them stand out as different. Ephraim Mhlangu has an extreme form of albinism which not only affects his skin colour but also many other aspects of his life: for example, he has poor eyesight. His form of albinism is inherited through genes carried by both his parents. Johnny Strowger, born to a Norfolk couple who are white, has black skin, but the reasons for this are slightly different from Ephraim: somewhere back in the families of both his parents, there are people of negroid race.
In Africa, around 1% of the population has albinism - in Zimbabwe it is 1.15%. Albinos tend to be short-lived: only 29% live to be 60.
As if their lives are not made difficult enough, albinos are persecuted because they are different. Worse still, many people believe that medicines made from the body parts of albinos by traditional healers have a strong effect. The result is that albinos, particularly babies and children, may be killed for this trade. This BBC Video interviews a witch doctor who explains the use of various body parts.
In Africa, around 1% of the population has albinism - in Zimbabwe it is 1.15%. Albinos tend to be short-lived: only 29% live to be 60.
As if their lives are not made difficult enough, albinos are persecuted because they are different. Worse still, many people believe that medicines made from the body parts of albinos by traditional healers have a strong effect. The result is that albinos, particularly babies and children, may be killed for this trade. This BBC Video interviews a witch doctor who explains the use of various body parts.
ALBINISM IN TANZANIA
Over the past few years, Tanzania has worked hard to stop the persecution of its albino population, but has failed to prevent their murder and the dismemberment of their bodies: in 2008, some 28 albinos were killed.
This video describes the problems faced by albinos.
Over the past few years, Tanzania has worked hard to stop the persecution of its albino population, but has failed to prevent their murder and the dismemberment of their bodies: in 2008, some 28 albinos were killed.
This video describes the problems faced by albinos.
See how she stands. Notice how the other dancers stare. This is the life of an albino in a society which struggles to understand.
2
Albinism
This is the sort of wayside shop, called a 'duka' in East Africa, at which Ephraim and Johnny would have stopped to buy a drink. Often the Cokes and Fantas are kept in a big, galvanised iron bathtub packed with ice.
CHAKA THE GREAT
Johnny describes his build as being like Chaka the Great's. Chaka, sometimes written Shaka, 1787-1828, created the Zulu nation.
Johnny describes his build as being like Chaka the Great's. Chaka, sometimes written Shaka, 1787-1828, created the Zulu nation.
The NSIKA
The 'Nsika', in the sense Johnny uses it, is dense bush land called 'nyika' in east and central Africa. It forms a strip parallel to and just inland from the coasts of Tanzania and Kenya. The famous Tsavo National Parks are in the 'nyika'.
Early European explorers found it terrible land to travel through on foot because many of the bushes and low trees are covered in thorns. To add to the problem, the rainfall is low, surface water rare, and droughts not uncommon.
Population density tends also to be low since cattle cannot be kept because of tsetse fly, and the soil forms a hard-pan which is almost impossible to work. Any farming is, therefore, subsistence farming and hunting. However, the 'nyika' supports game though it is difficult to hunt. This is lion country: the building of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway was stopped at Tsavo by two man-eating lions.
The 'Nsika', in the sense Johnny uses it, is dense bush land called 'nyika' in east and central Africa. It forms a strip parallel to and just inland from the coasts of Tanzania and Kenya. The famous Tsavo National Parks are in the 'nyika'.
Early European explorers found it terrible land to travel through on foot because many of the bushes and low trees are covered in thorns. To add to the problem, the rainfall is low, surface water rare, and droughts not uncommon.
Population density tends also to be low since cattle cannot be kept because of tsetse fly, and the soil forms a hard-pan which is almost impossible to work. Any farming is, therefore, subsistence farming and hunting. However, the 'nyika' supports game though it is difficult to hunt. This is lion country: the building of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway was stopped at Tsavo by two man-eating lions.
PHOTOS courtesy of - Two albinos in Classroom: Stueart Feilding; Two albino children, portrait: Kathleen Lorden; Girl with Dancers: trrill; Uganda Duka Wojtek Przywecki; the Nyika: Brockzilla
