THEREZA

By Standing Voice

November 19^th, 2020

I was born in the Musoma district of Tanzania. Both my parents were black.

Being born with albinism brought chaos and endless conflict into my home: a family with no history of quarrels was suddenly fighting regularly because I had albinism.

My mother had heard that tobacco would kill babies like me, so she planned to end my life. She changed her mind only when someone told her that she would continue having babies with albinism anyway. Five years later my parents divorced and my mother left. I was left at home with my father, who didn’t treat me any better.

Hearing of my ill treatment at home, my grandmother took me to live with her on Ukerewe Island. At first, my grandmother was extremely loving and caring toward me. But she was soon met with suspicion by her relatives and friends, who told her to send me back to my father or else they would abandon her. Her attitude toward me changed. Contrary to my expectations, it was another bitter life. My grandmother did not want to be seen with me, so I always stayed at home.

My grandmother bought me a beautiful gown when I first moved in. I loved it so much and did not wear it often for fear of ruining it. When my grandmother questioned this, I told her it was because I loved it. Laughing, she responded, “People say you won’t live long. Please wear that gown now as you may die soon.” I was so hurt and filled with anxiety.

As the years passed, I moved around a lot. Neither my grandmother nor my aunt would take care of me, and my father had since been sent to prison. I was passed between homes; my relatives were always embarrassed to be seen with me in the street. I never attended school and was not allowed to go to church or local weddings. It wasn’t until I met my grandfather that I heard any words of encouragement. He insisted God would take care of me and for the first time, I found comfort in the words of another. I was relieved; my heart filled with joy.

I am now a single mother of three children. The father of my first two has no interest in being in our lives. He used to say he was ashamed to have children with me. His own father, however, insisted on having a relationship with his granddaughters, and my girls have now visited him twice. He offered to take care of them permanently but I have kept them in my care. I will be the one to raise them. I’ve recently given birth to my third child, whose father is supportive and wants to marry me. Whatever happens, I just don’t want to be hurt anymore.

It was during the height of the killings of people with albinism across Tanzania that I met Standing Voice. I felt extremely disturbed at that time and moved back to Ukerewe, where there had been no reported killings and the environment was assumed to be safer. It was here that I was introduced to the team. Since then, Standing Voice has helped to raise my self-esteem while paying for my rent, awarding me a grant to launch a business, and covering my medical expenses when I had to go to hospital. They have reduced the burden I face in taking care of my family.

In 2017, Standing Voice enabled me to fly to the UK to perform at WOMAD Festival as part of the musical group the Tanzania Albinism Collective. The trip was like a miracle for me. I never thought I would ever experience something like that. When I think of my background and everything I went through, I never thought it would be possible to be part of something so amazing.

Today, I am a 30-year-old woman. I have seen that people with albinism can grow, thrive, and live until an old age. My grandmother was wrong all along.

Thereza is a founding member of the Tanzania Albinism Collective, an acclaimed group of musicians with albinism established in 2016. Below you can listen to Thereza sing "Happiness", the final song on the group’s debut album White African Power, and watch her perform it live for the BBC on the WOMAD stage. Listen to the album on Spotify here.