Hunted down by witchdoctors and sold by their own families: The albinos of Tanzania driven from their homes and forced to live in hiding for fear of being hacked to pieces by shamans who believe their body parts 'bring luck'

People with albinism have lived in fear for decades in Tanzania - not only facing discrimination for the way they look but also becoming the targets of ruthless traffickers who aim to make money from their bodies.

Witch doctors have been known to seek their organs and body parts to make 'lucky' potions and charms, with criminal networks being set up that include kidnappers, traffickers and killers to satisfy this macabre demand.

Those with the genetic condition are ostracised by their communities but also their own families, who may be tempted to betray them to body part sellers for vast sums of money.

Aware of the terror faced by the albino population, Tanzania's government has set up centres to protect them in recent years, which are nothing short of sanctuaries for this imperiled group. 

Photographer Ana Palacios visited the Kabanga refuge, near Lake Tanganyika, a community of women and children living with albinism, whose joy and resilience despite the constant threats they face shines through in these stunning pictures.

The Tanzanian government has found it necessary to set up special centres to protect people with albinism who have had to flee their villages

Eleven-year old Kelen loves dancing in the half-built bedrooms at Kabanga, away from the sun

The shortage of water at Kabanga is particularly alarming. When rainwater supplies run out they have to go to the hospital well to fetch water

Zawia, wearing green clogs, and her friends finish school at five in the afternoon and go straight back to Kabanga

Zawia Kasim, twelve-years-old, has learned the lesson and keeps herself well covered but the children find it difficult to play with their hats on and to keep their skin covered all the time and they tend to be careless. Zawia speaks Swahili, English and sign language. She wants to be a teacher

The striking images, shot in 2017, show how those living in the centre are able to enjoy a life almost free from the constant fear of violence they faced in their villages. 

Many of those pictured had to flee their villages for fear of being murdered by those who want to chop up and sell their limbs and organs to prepare potions. 

Activists have said that such potions are used to bring good fortune, for example by fishermen who pour it on their boats or miners hoping for a lucrative find.

Disturbing reports of attacks and abductions of people with albinism in Africa have emerged in recent years, with an apparent uptick in violence in 2022, according to  UN expert Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond.

'One of the victims was a child whose body was reportedly thrown into a river after her eyes and organs had been removed, no doubt for ritual purposes,' she revealed at the time.

Lack of awareness of what albinism is has given rise to discrimination and superstitions in many parts of Africa.

A 'white' child can be a stigma for the family, and are often cared for less, given less to eat and not afforded an education. 

In some tribes, albino children may be killed at birth, abandoned or offered for ritual sacrifice.

Some think they are the children of Lucifer, or that the mother had been with a white man, while others believe they were conceived during menstruation, or that their condition is a form of divine punishment.

Zawia Kasim, 12 years old, has learned the lesson and keeps herself well covered but the children find it difficult to play with their hats on and to keep their skin covered all the time

Epafroida is always in a good mood. She takes pride in her appearance, loves fashion and wants to save some money so she can set up her own textile business

Baswira Ntoteye shelters inside the huts at Kabanga to get away from the sun

Lusia Josamu, who has the problems with nystagmus and poor vision typical of the genetic condition of albinism, tries to thread coloured beads onto fishing line

Tanzania, which has a population of some 65 million people, is thought to be home to the highest rate of people with albinism in the world.

While one out of 15,000 people in most African sub-regions has albinism, estimates by the UN and charities suggest that in Tanzania it is one in every 1,400 people affected. 

An albino person's skin has little or no melanin, which is an effective blocker of solar radiation, and this makes them extremely vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun. 

Without protection such as sunscreen, long-sleeved clothing, hats and sunglasses, children with albinism are very likely to suffer severe sunburn which can lead to skin cancer, or the eye damage that will leave them totally blind. 

An albino person's skin has little or no melanin, which is a very effective blocker of solar radiation, and this makes them extremely vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun.

Tanzania is a country of 65 million people belonging to more than a hundred different tribes and speaking a hundred and twenty seven languages

Bethod and Biko listen to Celine Dion on their old radio cassette player. They're the oldest children at the centre. Men usually stay for a shorter time than women at these refuges