A BLOG POST BY ANNE LOUISE MEINCKE - CODING, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER TO THE WITCHCRAFT AND HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION NETWORK (WHRIN)
Only a few weeks ago the world media reported on the latest tragic death of a one-year old boy in Tanzania – he has been kidnapped from his home and brutally murdered and found with his limbs hacked off. The reason? He was a Person With Albinism (PWA) and had become a victim of the belief permeating society that their body parts carry special powers, bringing good fortune, prosperity and the ability to cure any illness. According to the Red Cross witchdoctors are prepared to pay $75,000 (£50,000) for a complete set of albino body parts.
His tragic death was not the first – according to the BBC, campaigners say that Tanzania has seen at least 75 such murders since 2000. Albinism is particularly prevalent in Tanzania with one in 1,400 estimated to be affected, according to a 2006 report.
To draw attention to this issue the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN), in partnership with Aya Distribution and Under the Same Sun, invite you to the UK premiere of White Shadow.
White Shadow, set in Tanzania and directed by Noaz Deshe, tells the story behind the headlines of the persecution of PWAs in Tanzania. Through a captivating narrative this fictional piece takes us inside the life of a young PWA. The film has won numerous awards at Festivals across the world including Venice Critics Week and Seattle International Film Festival. It has been highly acclaimed by film directors such as Francis Ford Coppola who describes the film as ‘Timeless, haunting, horrific, beautiful’.
Event Details:
- Date: Friday 20th Mrch
- 7.30 PM - Drinks Reception with Director, Noaz Deshe, Lead Actor, Hamisi Bazili, Under the Same Sun International Advocacy Officer, I.K Ero and WHRIN Executive Director, Gary Foxcroft.
- 8.30 PM - Screening of White Shadow
- 10PM - Q&A Session
Venue: The Tricycle Theare, 269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR
Tickets are £10 and available on the door or online: http://www.tricycle.co.uk/current-programme-pages/cinema-program/cinema/white-shadow/