Myths Surrounding Albinism among the Tonga People: A Case of Sinakomba Chiefdom in Siavonga District, Zambia

Abstract

This study focused on myths surrounding Albinism among the Tonga People: a case of Sinakomba Chiefdom in Siavonga District, Zambia. The main objectives of the study were to identify the myths surrounding Albinism among the Tonga people of Sinakomba Chiefdom in Siavonga district, Zambia, to establish how Albinos are treated based on the myths among the Tonga people of Sinakomba Chiefdom. The study was qualitative in nature, interpretivism as a paradigm was used and descriptive research design was adopted. The study involved twenty-eight (28) participants who were purposively selected. Data was generated using an in-depth interview guide for headmen and relatives of persons with albinism, a focus group guide for persons with albinism and community members and document study was also used for collection of data relating to cases involving persons with albinism within the chiefdom. The collected data was analyzed using latent thematic analysis approach. The key findings were that persons with albinism were cursed people who caused bad lucky in the families, albinism was considered to exist as a result of punishment from the ancestors for the wrong things done. Persons with albinism were said to be immortal, Albinism was considered to be contagious. Treatment of the persons with albinism in relation to myths was also established. For instance, persons with albinism were isolated and rejected, they were killed for one reason or another, they were accused of all the bad things that happened in the families, community members looked down on them and considered them to be lazy and unproductive.