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Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Foreword -- Introduction: Albinism, difference and the philosophical turn -- 1. Albinism and African thick conceptualisations -- The biological understanding of albinism in persons -- Albinism as a disability -- Albinism as a thick and contested concept in African thought -- Peculiarities of albinism in Africa -- 2. The ontology of albinism in African traditions -- An African theory of being -- Categories of being in African ontology -- Persons with albinism as queer beings -- Questioning the ontological asumptions about albinism -- The linguistic turn: albinism and linguistic ableism -- 3. The epistemology of albinism in African traditions -- African theory of knowledge I: Knowledge as first-hand information -- African theory of knowledge II: Knowledge as consistency with established beliefs -- African theory of knowledge III: Knowledge as shared knowledge -- Processes of knowing -- Why do (false) beliefs persist? -- Ignorance and systemically produced falsehood -- 4. The ethics of albinism in African traditions -- An African theory of the good -- Does African moral theory justify harming persons with albinism? -- The duty to, and burden of, care -- Social justice, dignity and easing of the burden of care -- The challenge of an elitist virtue ethic -- 5. Albinism in Africa: Some existential issues -- Fear and dread -- Alienation, suicide contemplation and authentic living -- Peculiar feminine experience of albinism -- 6. Overcoming the violent othering of albinism in Africa today -- Reconstructive and awareness education and training for key social institutions -- Reconstructive and awareness education for persons with albinism -- Establishment of social structures and institutions.

In this essay, I explore the asymmetry of value and power inherent in African communitarian philosophy's assumptions about personhood and the implications of these assumptions for disabled people's access to healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic era. While African communitarian philosophy forms the fulcrum on which people in an African community thrive and survive, it is also essentially laden with an ontology of exclusion that prioritizes some people as persons over other people who are cast as non-persons. Disabled people – including persons with albinism, autistic people, persons with epilepsy, and persons with angular kyphosis – are excluded as non-persons in this way and are thus unable to enjoy the support of the communitarian structure. In pursuance of the objective of this essay, I begin with an exposition of the nature and contents of African communitarian philosophy. I proceed to analyse the conception of personhood deeply rooted in African philosophy and, by implication, the exclusion of certain beings and persons from the African communitarian philosophical structure. I then show the privileges in terms of value and power that people included within the community of selves enjoy as opposed to the disvalue and lack of power that those excluded from this community face. I show furthermore how this devaluation and disempowerment can become major challenges to wellbeing and healthcare for disabled people, particularly hindering access to healthcare even during a pandemic. I conclude by arguing for the importance of a broad sense of community in African philosophy rather than the narrow sense of community that is currently in place.

"'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"--

African Philosophy from a Multidisciplinary Perspective -- African Ethics African Epistemology -- African Metaphysics and African Logic -- African Communitarian Philosophy -- African Philosophy of Education -- African Philosophy of Disability African Communitarian Philosophy.

In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, mothers impacted by the genetic condition of albinism, whether as mothers of children with albinism or themselves with albinism, are disproportionately impacted by a constellation of health-related stigma, social determinants of health (SDH), and human rights violations. In a critical ethnographic study in Tanzania, we engaged with the voices of mothers impacted by albinism and key stakeholders to elucidate experiences of stigma. Their narratives revealed internalized subjective stigma, social stigma such as being ostracized by family and community, and structural stigma on account of lack of access to SDH. An analysis of health systems as SDH revealed stigmatizing attitudes and behaviours of healthcare providers, especially at the time of birth; a lack of access to timely quality health services, in particular skin and eye care; and a lack of health-related education about the cause and care of albinism. Gender inequality as another SDH featured prominently as an amplifier of stigma. The findings pose implications for research, policy, and practice. A concrete avenue to de-stigmatization of mothers impacted by albinism exists by the application of principles of human rights, particularly equality and non-discrimination; contextual analysis of cultural dynamics including relevant ontology; meaningful participation of rights-claimants, such as peer groups of mothers; and accountability of governments and their obligation to ensure access to health information as a key social determinant of the right to health.

Ontologized Ethics is a collection of essays in meta-ethics with an emphasis on philosophical discourse in the African context. It focuses primarily on the extent to which metaphysical beliefs may or may not justify moral beliefs, thereby revisiting the issue of the 'is-ought' relationship.