The tragic and illegal murder of Cecil, one of the most beloved lions in Zimbabwe, by American dentist Walter Palmer, has caused global outrage. Trophy hunting, a practice which is legal in many parts of Africa, is coming to light and more and more Americans are objecting to it altogether. Major airlines including Delta, American and United will no longer transport big game trophies, which will make it more difficult for hunters to decorate their homes. With all the media attention this issue has gotten it is time to also point a finger at the brutality that people with albinism still face in many parts of East Africa. For years it has been a major issue in the region and has gone unnoticed. The increased oversight of Africa can help put an end to the slaughter of innocent albino people for ritualistic purposes once and for all.
Similar to how animals are poached for their body parts, people who are albino, or born without pigment in their skin, are killed in many parts of East Africa because their body parts are believed to bring good fortune. After being kidnapped and dismembered, their remains are given to witch doctors who create potions that are sold for tens of thousands of dollars on the black market.
The Tanzanian government has made witch doctor practice punishable by death in an attempt to end the terrible violence that causes men, women and children with albinism to live in constant fear. The corruption displayed in the trophy-hunting industry, where money can bend the law, is also seen in politics. Recently, more albinos have been attacked in Tanzania, and the United Nations believes that it is related to upcoming government elections as officials are using albino limbs to better their chances.
Before the Cecil controversy fades out of the limelight, it is important to think of other major injustices in the region and the attention they deserve. No matter how many zeros are on the price tag, people and animals killed for “trophy” do not have more value after death.
