Breaking barriers: Rise of athletes with albinism in sports amid stigma

The world of sports has long been celebrated as a place where talent, perseverance, and determination take centre stage, transcending boundaries of race, ethnicity, and background. However, the absence of people living with albinism highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving true inclusivity in the sector, EBENEZER BAJELA writes

On a sunny afternoon, with the temperature hovering around 32 degrees Celsius, a man strolled confidently in a blue T-shirt and jeans. Despite the scorching heat, he walked comfortably, unbothered by the sun’s rays, without an umbrella, a wide-brimmed hat, or sunglasses to shield his sensitive eyes.

His appearance was striking: white hair, white eyelashes, pale skin, and pink eyes made him stand out. He appeared to have albinism, bringing to mind the common belief that people with albinism often struggle to see in bright sunlight. So comfortable was he that he declined the offer giving him a lift, assuring me he was fine and just a short distance from his destination.

His name was Ajisafe Sunday.
Ajisafe has albinism, a genetic condition where his skin, hair, and eyes lack melanin—the pigment responsible for skin colour and protection against ultraviolet light damage from the sun.

Albinism is a genetic condition that causes a deficit in the body’s biosynthesis of melanin, a pigment that colours the skin, hair and eyes.

Ajisafe’s walk under the scorching sun challenged the common misconception that individuals with albinism cannot see well or move around during the day, especially in intense heat.
Myths, discrimination and stigma

There are numerous myths and legends surrounding people with albinism, many of which have persisted for centuries despite the modern era’s claims of cultural progress. Some cultures believe that individuals with albinism do not die but simply vanish, while others propagate the dangerous myth that sexual intercourse with them can cure AIDS.

Additionally, individuals with albinism are often viewed as abominations and rarely considered for jobs or leadership roles. In certain communities, these deeply ingrained superstitions and misconceptions put their safety and lives at constant risk. Despite the passage of time, these beliefs are still alarmingly present in contemporary societies.

In sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism have long struggled for equal rights and societal understanding, facing widespread stigmatization. In schools, they are often the targets of teasing from classmates, and their vision impairments—common in those with albinism—frequently lead to academic struggles. This discriminatory mindset even extends to sports, where people with albinism are rarely seen participating.

A typical example is Adiaratou Iglesias Forneiro, who fled her hometown in Mali and moved to Spain following several attacks based on her albinism.

Today, she boasts two golds from the 2021 European Championship, two silvers from the 2019 World Championship, and a gold medal won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the women’s 100-metre T13 race.

Exclusion from sports
Sports are generally seen as an inclusive activity where everyone, regardless of age, gender, or body type, has the right to watch, play, and enjoy. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, this inclusiveness often does not extend to people with albinism.

In many sub-Saharan African countries, people with albinism face discrimination and exclusion, often viewed as cursed or inferior. This vulnerable group experiences multiple layers of injustice, particularly in the sports world, where they are sidelined due to their appearance and the misconceptions surrounding their condition.

Although sports are meant to unite people across ethnicities, tribes, and skin colours, individuals with albinism are frequently left on the sidelines, with little effort made to accommodate their needs, particularly regarding low vision. In the history of Nigeria, no person with albinism has ever represented the country in any sports tournament.

While it is true that people with albinism have lighter skin and may suffer from low vision and heightened sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, these factors do not disqualify them from participating in sports. In fact, many sports, including swimming, basketball and football, can be adapted to include individuals with albinism.

Globally, there are examples of people with albinism who have made significant contributions to sports, representing their countries and teams at the highest levels.

At the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Forneiro the visually-impaired athlete represented Spain in the women’s 400m-T13 but narrowly missed out on the podium finish.

The exclusion of individuals with albinism from sports is a stark reminder of the barriers that still exist in our society, often fuelled by ignorance and discrimination. This exclusion not only undermines the value of inclusivity and equality that sports are meant to promote, but it also deprives talented athletes of the opportunity to showcase their skills and passion.
It is in light of this that Tolani Ojuri, Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, in an interview with The PUNCH talks on the need to challenge these prejudice and foster environments where everyone, regardless of physical differences, can participate and thrice.

“People living with albinism are overlooked for sports in Nigeria because a lot of people believe that a person with albinism cannot see clearly and are not even considered for sporting activities,” he said.

“It is not true that persons living with albinism cannot take part in outdoor games, I am a cyclist and I ride long distance. I only make sure that I get on the road as early as 5:30 am and by 8:30 am I am off the road. The sun is not out all day, it just depends on the timing of practice and that of the competition. It is very essential that we engage in outdoor sports and this can be done when the sun is not out.”

Many people harbour misconceptions about albinism, viewing it through a lens of fear or prejudice rather than recognising it as a genetic variation as pointed out by Ajisafe, a very talented goalkeeper while growing up.

“It’s sad how those of us living with albinism are perceived,” Ajisafe, who resides in Forthright Estate Ogun State said.

“I see how people look at me wherever I go as if I am out of this world but it is sad that in this century we are still seen that way. Even in sports, you don’t get to see anybody living with albinism taking part and it will surprise many people that I was a very good goalkeeper during my days in school.

“I was a very good goalkeeper with good eyesight but I stopped keeping because I got so deep in the ministry and it took me away from football. I don’t pay attention to the stigmatisation because I know that does affect people but in my case, it was a matter of choice.”
“It is not true that people living with albinism cannot take part in sports,” he added.

“However, there are some limitations as an albino person because we cannot expose ourselves to the sun for too long because that could cause skin cancer.

“People living with albinism also do have eye defects but this is not general because some people can see clearly without using glasses, I don’t have eye defects and I can see clearly.  Because of this limitation, we understand that there are some sports we cannot do but how about indoor sports?

“The reasons why many of us don’t get involved in sports are because a lot of us do feel intimidated and try to imagine what people will say or the thought of being mocked. When we tell people we want to go into sports, there is this way of perception because they just assume that we cannot see. This has discouraged many albinos to come out and show interest in sports.”

Success stories

Suffice it to say that society has failed to realise that not all children with albinism have the same visual acuity, and since not all use their vision with the same efficiency, it is important to consider the individual abilities, needs and skill level of each child which means people with albinism can participate in sports programmes with appropriate support services.

According to research, games involving large balls (football, kickball, basketball) work much better for people living with albinism and this begs for question of why they are been left out of sports.
There are schools of thought who believe that people living with albinism can lead normal, healthy lives while others argue that the amount of time they spend outdoors should be limited due to sun exposure which tends to affect their skin due to their rare genetic condition.

Jaylen Fisher, a TCU basketball star born with albinism, has proven that albinos can participate in regular athletics depending on their abilities.

He was the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with TCU and started all their games before being transferred to GCU in 2019.

During his time with the Horned Frogs, Fisher was arguably their most important player, a second lead guard and the best defender in their backcourt and was one of the most sought-after transfers on the market that summer.
Fisher was not the only person to show that albinism is just a colour that shouldn’t deter people of its kind from pursuing their dreams, Zambian runner, Monica Munga, was also able to use sports to stop the stigmatisation that comes with the genetic condition.

“I am just working hard to be out there so that we can have more people come to join me,” she told Tokyo 2020.

“I would be happy to have more athletes with disabilities.
“To travel to a tournament with four or five others and not alone. Then people can also say Zambia has produced athletes living with albinism. There are many but there is fear.”

However, it needs to be pointed out that while albinos might not be able to get involved in football, basketball and other physical sports, there are certain sports that they can take part in without being exposed to any form of danger.

Sports like swimming, aerobics, gymnastics, and chess are sports which can be enjoyed with minimal adaptations required.

Role of Parents

The role of parents of individuals living with albinism is crucial in shaping their children’s confidence, well-being, and ability to navigate a world that may often misunderstand or discriminate against them.

Emotionally, parents provide a safe space for their children to express their challenges, whether related to vision impairments, social stigmatization, or bullying.

“There is indeed stigmatisation but the most important thing for anybody and people living with albinism is the family unit. It is the way your family units bring you up or treat you that prepares you for the world,” Ojuri said.
“I had a very good support, my parents showed me all the love they could and by the time I was exposed to the world, I wasn’t too particular about what people think about me. I have a very healthy self-esteem.

“I have functioned in different places in my life both in and outside of school, the workplace and the community in which I live. As a person with albinism, what value are you adding once you are adding value, stigma will take a back seat.”

Sussan Omopeloye, a sports journalist living with albinism added, “I have seen parents of young albinos trying to shield them from the society and talks that could damage their self-esteem but some parents like mine don’t mind.

“I have been doing sports since I was young; I played football as a primary school student, then I ran short distances races later. My parents were very supportive and encouraged me that I could do it like every other kid, all they needed to do was equip me well but it is not the same for every other child.

“They need to start getting that support from childhood because if you want to do sports you need backing from home and regardless of the limitation and stigmatisation parents also have a role to play because if the support is not there from home it becomes a problem to start young and we know that’s when we need to start honing our talents. Self-esteem has to be built when we are young to ensure that we can stand anywhere.”

Awareness

On June 3, 2024, the International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) marked a decade of advocating for a supportive and inclusive environment for people living with albinism. Over the years, IAAD has introduced various themes to promote the inclusion of individuals with albinism in all sectors of society.
In 2023, the organization celebrated its ninth anniversary with the theme “Inclusion is Strength.” However, despite these efforts, people with albinism continue to face significant barriers to full integration, particularly in sports. They are often overlooked and discriminated against, despite being born with talents just like anyone else. People with albinism can excel in sports such as athletics, football, goalball, archery, bowls, and cricket, but are frequently denied the opportunity to showcase their abilities.

Ojuri opines that it becomes mandatory to educate persons with albinism and calls on the need for more awareness programmes.

“One of the things that we thought the government was doing three years ago when Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs had their ability games, that would have been a good avenue to showcase to the world that person with albinism can take part in outdoor games as long as the timing is regulated,” he told The PUNCH.

“We have embarked on a lot of awareness programmes, going to schools, places of worship and markets to enlighten people that persons with albinism can play outdoor games conveniently in as much as they are properly kept away from the sun because of eventual occurrence of skin cancer.

“More campaign still needs to be done but we need the backing of the government.”

According to the World Health Organisation, the prevalence of albinism varies between one in 5,000 and one in 15,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria has one of the highest rates globally, with approximately two million people affected. The United Nations also highlights that while the incidence of albinism in North America and Europe is estimated to be one in every 17,000 to 20,000 people, the condition is far more common in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, for instance, one in 1,400 people are affected, with some select populations in Zimbabwe and other Southern African ethnic groups reporting rates as high as one in 1,000.

Setbacks
Despite efforts from the United Nations Human Rights Council which involved adopting a resolution in 2013 calling for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism, it is clear evidence that this discrimination is yet to stop if the non-involvement of people living with albinism in sports is anything to go by.

Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.

One of the many erroneous beliefs about people living with albinism is the need to shield them from the sun, hence, their inability to take part in sporting activities.

“A lot has been said about our skin and how fragile we are but most of them are not true,” Ajisafe said.

“When I was playing football I was so strong and even when I and my mates collided, they ended up picking up injuries and people even nicknamed me ‘egungun igbo’ because of how strong my bones were.

“I have a good sight and I totally disagree with all those claims that we don’t see very well during the day.”

Maxwell Kumoye, a veteran broadcaster added, “It is a sad thing how people perceive individuals living with albinism. Even if the stigmatisation is there and the environment is conducive you will put aside the stigmatisation.
“The stigmatisation is just one of the reasons for non-participation of people living with albinism in sports. The environment is equally not conducive for those without albinism because sport in Nigeria is not rewarding.

“What we need is a level playing ground where sport is rewarding and not just entertaining. Imagine begging in addition to the stigmatisation, that is a double problem for people living with albinism and that is why I feel so many things are just wrong.”

Conclusion

Moving forward, several steps can be taken to promote the inclusion of individuals with albinism in sports.

According to Ojuri, conducting workshops and campaigns to educate coaches, athletes, and the community about albinism can dispel myths and reduce stigma. This education should highlight the capabilities of athletes with albinism, emphasising their skills and potential.

Implementing clear policies that promote inclusivity and prohibit discrimination based on physical differences by sports organisations will also help in promoting the inclusion of individuals with albinism in sports. Creating guidelines for accommodating the unique needs of athletes with albinism can also foster participation.

Organising inclusive sporting events and competitions that specifically invite athletes with albinism can promote visibility and celebrate diversity. These events can serve as platforms to showcase talent and foster community support.
By taking these steps, the sports community can create an environment where all athletes, regardless of their differences, feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their potential.