Cultural representations of albinism in Africa : narratives of change / Charlotte Baker and Elvis Imafidon (eds).

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Baker, Charlotte, 1976- editor, author.

Imafidon, Elvis, 1984- editor, author.

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Disability, media, culture, 2633-0849 ; v. no. 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Albinos and albinism--Africa, Sub-Saharan--Social conditions.

Albinos and albinism.

Albinos and albinism in popular culture--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Albinos and albinism in popular culture.

Physical Description:

xiii, 244 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang Publishing, 2022.

Summary:

"'The authors in this inspiring volume focus on the socially transformative potential narrative has to shape understandings of albinism in Africa. Scholars and activists, they reflect on how traditional beliefs, literary fiction, radio, music, photography, film and the arts can bring about social change, and also educate publics about albinism.' - Carli Coetzee, Editor, Journal of African Cultural Studies 'Highly intriguing and skillfully nuanced, this book evaluates several methods of advocacy on behalf of people with albinism from Africa, who often face stigma and physical attacks. The result is a rich commentary on what has worked, what didn't and why. This is recommended reading for anyone engaging in advocacy for any marginalized group in parts of Africa and elsewhere.' - Ikponwosa Ero, Former UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism The challenges currently faced by people with albinism in many African countries are increasingly becoming a focus of African writers, storytellers, artists and filmmakers across the continent. At the same time, a growing number of advocates and activists are taking account of the power of cultural representation and turning to the arts to convey important messages about albinism - and disability more broadly - to audiences locally and internationally. This volume focuses on the power of cultural representations of albinism, taking into account their real-world effects and implications. Contributions from academics and albinism advocates range across traditional beliefs, literature, radio, newsprint, the media, film and the arts for public engagement, contending that all forms of representation have an important role to play in building sensitivity to the issues related to albinism amongst national and international audiences. Contributors draw attention to the implications of different forms of cultural representation, the potential of these different forms to open up new discursive spaces for the expression of identities and the articulation or critique of particularly difficult issues, and their potential to evoke far-reaching social change"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Foreword. Unweaving Harmful Fictions: Cultural Representations of Albinism in Africa / Thando Hopa

Introduction. Changing Narratives of Albinism in Africa / Charlotte Baker and Elvis Imafidon

Challenging Traditional Understandings: Embedding Accurate Knowledge of Albinism in African Cultures / Elvis Imafidon

Literature as Advocacy: Fictional Representations of Albinism in African Contexts / Charlotte Baker

Debunking Stereotypes or Reinforcing Them? The Representation of Albinism in Three Nigerian Films / Kolawole Olaiya

Albinism between Stigma and Charisma: Varying Interpretations of Two Photographs from South Africa / Christopher J. Hohl

Sparks of Otherness: Producing Representations of Albinism in Documentary Films from the Global North / Giorgio Brocco

Voices that Stand: The Power of Film for Advocacy on Albinism in Africa / Sam Clarke

Theatre and Stigma Reduction: Can Theatre Raise Awareness on Albinism / Tjitske de Groot, Pieter Meurs, Mustapha Almasi, Ruth Peters and Wolfgang Jacquet

Building Community Understanding of the Genetic Explanation of Albinism through Interactive Performance Art in Tanzania / Christiane Essombe, Jon Beale, and Patricia Lund

'We gon be Alright': The Musical Response to the Killing of People with Albinism in Malawi / Ken Junior Lipenga.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Cultural representations of albinism in Africa

ISBN:

9781800791398

1800791399

OCLC:

1338645340

Publisher Number:

99993606459