Masambuko Madata, Emmanuel Masangwa and Charles Kalamuji
In ancient Greek mythology, there were three goddesses who determined the fate of every person. Although there were many deities who had power over nearly every aspect of someone’s life, none had as much influence as the three sisters Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. The Greek name for these powerful goddesses was the “Moirae”, but you probably call them the Three Fates. The Moirae worked as a team, each with their own task. Clotho spun the thread of a person’s life, Lachesis measured it and Atropos cut it, thus determining the length of time one had in this life.
The Moirae only gave Matatizo Dunia 14 short years of life, all of which was in Bunyihuna village, in the Bukombe district of Tanzania. No doubt it was a difficult life, made hard enough by being born in a poor rural area where he had little chance of getting an education and health care but then on top of that, Matatizo had another significant problem to contend with- he was an albino.
By some quirk of genetics, albinism is several times more common in Eastern Africa than anywhere else in the world. It occurs in an 
average of 1 in every 3,000 births, when most other countries see an average of 1 albino in roughly 80,000 births.
Although an albino can have a fairly normal life and have normal, healthy children, health problems such as skin cancer and poor vision are very common in people born with albinism. In the hot sunny climate of Africa where many people must spend a lot of time working outdoors, an albino has a very high risk of dying from skin cancer, but that is not the most deadly threat they face.
They are sometimes hunted like animals, killed for their skin and body parts. Those who believe in black magic will pay large sums of money for witch doctors to cast spells using the blood, body parts, hair and skin of the “ghost people” which are said to make the most powerful charms that bring them good luck and prosperity. Some of the witch doctors’ supply of albino parts comes from grave robbers, but the parts that fetch the highest prices are ones from a living person because it is believed that their screams and agony while being killed imparts even stronger magical power. In the last two years, almost a hundred albino people have been murdered for their body parts in Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi.
Matatizo Dunia had his own rendezvous with three greedy and coldblooded killers who took on the role of the “Three Fates” on December 1, 2008. Masambuko Madata, Emmanuel Masangwa and Charles Kalamuji decided his fate should be for him to die for their financial gain. They invaded the Dunia family home late that night, dragged Matatizo outside and cut his body into pieces. When the killers were arrested, one of them had Dunia’s leg in his possession and his other body parts were found hidden in some nearby bushes.
This vile and despicable murder has only come to the attention of the media because it is the very first time anyone has been jailed and tried for killing an albino in Tanzania since the beginning of an official ban forbidding witch doctors plying their trade openly. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete urged citizens to come forward with any information involving witch doctor killings, but a BBC Africa analyst has expressed doubt about the hope of stopping the murders entirely, saying “It is likely that some murders will continue because so much money can be made from selling the body parts.”
Perhaps some of the estimated 17,000 Tanzanian albino people living in fear can rest a little easier now with the knowledge that their government is taking the threat seriously and is making good on the President’s vow to crack down on the witch doctors, because the trial of Matatizo Dunia’s murderers made an important first strike in the name of justice on September 23.
Masambuko Madata, Emmanuel Masangwa and Charles Kalamuji were all convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging.
A Canadian businessman and founder of the pro-albino organization Under the Same Sun, Peter Ash, himself albino, said authorities must pursue the killers in every case. Speaking before the trial during a tour of the Tanzania, Ash said:
“This is one conviction. There are 52 other families still awaiting justice,” he said.
Ash also highlighted the case of a five-year- old girl named Mariam. She was attacked by a group of men in the city of Mwanza.
“One of them slit her throat, drained her blood into a saucepan and drank it in the presence of her two siblings. The men then chopped off her limbs and ran off.”
“Mariam did not have the benefit of being unconscious first. She was killed, like an animal, by grown men who did this deliberately while her siblings watched.”
This Story Was Written And Submitted By “dooflotchie.”
The Pictures Are, From Top To Bottom:
1. Masambuko Madata, Emmanuel Masangwa and Charles Kalamuji
2. A Tanzanian mother and her albino child
3. Two albino children with their brother
4. Peter Ash, founder of Under The Same Sun
Do Masambuko Madata, Emmanuel Masangwa and Charles Kalamuji Belong In Hell?
- Yes (99%, 165 Votes)
- No (1%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 167
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Jesus Christ. These poor, beautiful people. Hidden and scared and oh my god, this breaks my heart. Rest in Peace, sweet Marium and Matatizo.
There’s so much ghastly shit going on in Africa, this surprises me not at all. It’s a different century over there – total Dark Ages.
They rape virgins (boys and girls of any age) because they think it will cure AIDS.
Voodoo, etc. is rampant along with all of its horrible implications. So much superstition and fear.
I forget the percentage, but the vast majority of women and many children (including boys) in Africa have been raped at least once, sometimes multiple times. Rape is more a part of warfare over there than practically anyplace else in the world. Did your brother piss someone off? They may gang – rape you in retaliation. They know rape is a terrorist act, and they practice it constantly. The government seems powerless to prevent it.
FGM is a regular occurrence, typically without warning, without sterile medical instruments and with no ‘post-op’ medical care. If you don’t know what FGM is, Google it but not if you’re easily disturbed. It’s a subject I can barely think of without becoming nauseous and horrified for the women who’ve been destroyed by it.
This is also one of those countries most affected by the Catholic opposition to condoms. You’re not going to prevent these people from having premarital sex, at least save their lives by helping to cut down on AIDS cases by allowing them to use condoms.
This story is not unique or even extreme for the area. That truly is the terror of it.
That’s what went thru my mind while I was reading this post too.
Very well put. It is really sad that a nation that was established thousands of years before other countries like the US are still living like this.
Can you believe the ignorance? To kill an innocent child because they think his skin and blood is good luck? apparently one practice they let go of is karma.
If their skin and blood are such good luck, why did they have the bad luck to be killed and butchered for it? GAH?
These people are not directly responsible for their ignorance. The region is so fucked up and has been for so long, ignorance is a tradition.
There was a recent article somewhere (I am so good at citing sources!) about a boy who started a school. He’s the youngest headmaster on the whole continent, probably in the world. I wish I could find the link, because it was such a wonderful story. Even that kind of spirit is tough to sustain in light of the horrible negatives facing these people. If I was they praying type, I’d pray for them every day.
And a new fresh pit of hell There:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33356826/ns/world_news-africa/page/2/
Ignorance kills. Ignorance under the guise of religion kills worse.
I may be getting nit-picky, but Africa is not a nation. It is a continent made up many nations.
Wow Becky! You’re clearly well read and informed on African issues! I was working with an old fashioned assumption that it was a continent composed of vastly differet an unique cultures, languages, mores and social patterns. I even thought it could be thought of in terms of the individual countries that it’s comprised of. Thank you so much for setting me straight.
Yes Jexxie, Africa is composed of different cultures and countries. While I do appreciate your wonderful use of sarcasm (sarcasm aside, I truly do!), it does little to alleviate the fact that Africa is a 3rd world country, classified such for many different reasons.
nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world.htm
Check out how many different parts of Africa are all over this list, and THEN get indignant at me for pointing out a few well-documented problems it has. These problems are not exclusive to Africa, of course. Heck, FGM is practiced in the US sometimes too! It’s the concentration of these crimes that I am pointing out.
That’s not to say Africa doesn’t have culture and beauty – I never said it didn’t. That’s not to say I do not feel terrible for the people who live in the destitute areas, nor do I think they somehow deserve to have to live that way. I am not reveling in this information. Quite the opposite.
Check out afrol.com . Poke around a bit. Lots of beauty, yes. Lots of extreme challenges that don’t face other countries in such abundance. I don’t mean to slam Africa or Africans, so much as their circumstance. Jexxie, I apologize if that wasn’t clear from my post.
Thanks for contributing so much more to the conversation then, smartass.
I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be more specific Jexxie. Can you point out to me one thing Becky said that wasn’t true about that majority of African countries. Unfortunately, in those countries in Africa which are mostly Black and independent, the common citizens have been exploited to the last dollar, either by the developed countries (read White) who pillage a country’s natural resources (gold, diamonds, ect…), or their own government (Zambia is a great example – Robert Mugabe, the “president for life” has stolen billions from his people). The poverty that resulted from this exploitation creates a climate of ignorance, fear, and superstition.
Yeah, I’m a bit confused about Jexxie’s pissiness with me. I thought maybe he/she just misunderstood my wording, so I tried to clarify. I’m not afraid of pissing people off, to the contrary I think it’s a good way to get to the truth sometimes. I’m just confused as to why my words are being twisted to mean something I obviously do not mean.
Yes I am kinda up on what’s happening to the innocent people of Africa, as much as anyone in the US can be without going over there. What I don’t know I don’t mention, and that’s plenty. I do not claim to be an expert, but I care enough to at least try to combat my own ignorance. How am I offending you?
I thought it was very well said, and enlightening, Becky (no sarcasm there, honestly :). Unfortunately, this doesn’t surprise me at all either. This particular story is very sad, nonetheless. Those poor albino people. There is just so much ugliness all over this world and it’s such a shame.
Thank you, Nicole. I appreciate that muchly. :)
When I was around 9 or 10, I was looking through an old copy of either Time or Life magazine. In that issue was a full page, full color close-up of a young girls face as she was undergoing forcible FGM. Her own mother was holding her down. If I recall correctly, the implement they were using to destroy her was a piece of broken glass.
I can’t shake the look on her face. I’ve never been able to, and it’s as clear in my memory today as it was when I first saw it. A small part of me is glad I can’t shake it because it means I’m not so jaded as I could be. The rest of me wants to reach through the photo, grab her hand and just start running.
You’re welcome Becky. And my god, that is horrible. Poor little girl.
At lease that third world hellhole does something right – - immediate death by hanging after trial. Wish it could happen here. Think of the justice served and the money saved.
At least in Africa they know how to punish people.
I agree.
If we were to have such punishments then there would be less children getting kidnappe, rape and kill in our country, Simply they would be hang the first time and not keep letting back out on the street… to keep hurting our childrren .. oh… the money we save from not having to feed them in prison can apply it to our health care and social security. but you know it.. some human rights group would protest, and file law suite..etc….. there goes all the money we can save and all the dang sick basters back on the street.
“but the parts that fetch the highest prices are ones from a living person because it is believed that their screams and agony while being killed imparts even stronger magical power.”
That was the most horrible thing I’d read today… until I got to the part about Mariam. :(
Very well-written piece. Thank you. I’m glad to know something’s being done about these monsters.
Yeah WELL DONE Africa on hanging those brutal disgusting sub-humans…..Albinos may look different but they should be treated as any other person….
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who finds albino people beautiful. I think they are really fascinating and special. They should be cherished and cared for, not murdered and butchered. I was so horrified to read about these witchcraft killings it made me nauseated.
This story helped me to feel a lot better:
http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/Living/-/1218/614304/-/rhe1pez/-/index.html
Connie Chiu is an albino model from Hong Kong, so pretty.
http://www.conniechiu.com/
Max, thanks a lot for the finishing touches you added. I felt like there was something missing from this story, don’t know why I didn’t think to look for videos on YouTube about it. Derrrrrrr…
Thanks for the links
Oh my gosh. Isn’t she just a stunning and fascinating woman. Thank you for that link.
Thanks dooflotchie for the great links! What a beautiful woman!
Usually I am all for indigenous people maintaining cultural heritage,but in this case and the other atrocities that are taking place ALL over Africa, China the middle east and other areas education is the only answer and salvation these people have! I am just sick after reading the story! Thanks for an informative well thought out article! Dee
It’s amazing what generations of ignorance produce.
Raping virgins to cure AIDS – how fucking ignorant must one be NOT to figure out that doing such actually spreads the disease / condition.
Africa has many problems, Al Gore being one of them. Al Gore does not want many of these third workl counties developing, less the world heat up. Al is not happy with India’s rapid development and the new cheap car that is being produced for the masses over there. While development will bring other problems, it would also cure many of the problems over the coarse of generations.
If this article was not so riddled with ignorance and prejudice, i would make some cracks about Obama’s health plan, but the fact that some people look at others as part warehouses or medicine cabinets is just too gruesome.
I am glad to see that the government is trying to stop such from happening.
While some may laugh at the ignorance, many “educated” people also act this way in a more acceptable manor. Progressive taxation seems to be the belief that if enough resources are taken from the rich by the government, poverty will be eliminated……
Less gruesome, but the same thing – take from someone else for my benefit. In psychology – the Level 5 person – “I” am it, “I” makes the rules which “I” live by, “I” determine what is fair, “I” am the highest power in my life……..
Many bad things happen in Africa, but killing albinos is just beyond the pale. Africa has a lot of natural resource and lots of different tribes, which leads to war.
This one speaks to me on a different level.
Tanzania, where this crime was committed, was formed when the mostly Christian nation of Tanganyika threw off their colonial chains and the mostly Muslim nation of Zanzibar ejected and overthrew their Arabic masters, and joined to weld together a nation that could fend off all comers. They’re poor, but not the poorest nation in Africa by far. They have their problems, but their democracy and Constitution are positively glowing compared to most of Eastern and Western Africa. Southern Africa, where Tanzania is arguably a member is dominated by South Africa’s powerful economic pull, and Tanzania suffers a bit in the shadow of it’s more successful southern ally.
Socialism, or rather communism in the disguise of socialism and the intervention of China in the 70′s as well as Soviet Russia left the nation with a 5-year-plan style economy. Long lines and plenty of something, but never what was needed. Into all of this, you have the Animists, which under Tanzanian law are no longer surveyed or counted, in part to help avoid the struggle between Muslim and Christian missionaries who seek to convert the Animists in a third column pogram for domination of the opposing sphere. These Animists have grown more militant to protect themselves from the foreign armed and supported religious powers, and into this militancy has flourished a dangerous drug trade and spill-over from dozens of conflicts and HIV. All that said, it simply gives the backdrop I consider this crime in.
When I see this attack, I rightfully call these men monsters, not merely because they killed a human being for profit, and butchered him like he was an elephant to poach ivory from, but because they are a sign of a plague that hurts Tanzania’s chances of crawling out from under the rock placed on them long ago by colonial powers and religions who brought conversion in order to arm a populace in a religious war. I see these things, born of the animist religion, desensitized to violence by Islam and Christianity alike, as factory manufactured monsters. It’s likely they were junkies, chopping off a foot like a junky in Scotland would steal a television set to fence for some junk. Think about the astrology section in Western papers, and those who guide their whole day around it, and now imagine drug dealers like Pablo Escobar, exchanging cocaine to those who supported his astrology habits.
I have read a lot of information regarding criminal practices in Africa, the high incidence of rape, the use of child soldiers, the wars in the Sudan, the burning of those suspected to be witches, but I never had read of the use of people with albino characteristics being killed for their body parts-I don’t even know what to say, just when you think you have heard all the insane craziness something even worse comes out
Should add to the list? I have been to Somalia. Was stationed there for 7 months. Was a sight to see.
How about Bosnia? Was there also Have you ever smelled a mass grave only partially burried? Watched the dogs, rats and wild boars feed on the dead? I have. I still have problems sleeping.
How awful and sad. I had heard of this before, unfortunately.
“I was working with an old fashioned assumption that it was a continent composed of vastly differet an unique cultures, languages, mores and social patterns.”
Being “black” (read: 35% black and 65% white or native American) I would like to think so too. But the differences are pretty minor and usually meaningless. On the whole, African cultures are all sh*t (and that’s compared to American culture, which I still don’t consider totally civilized).
Socially I am as liberal as it gets, and my family is very Afro-centric. Let me be the first to say this:
People are NOT created equal. They should be afforded equal rights, but that doesn’t mean there’s some magical force running around balancing out everyone’s abilities.
Experiments have shown that brain capacity is directly related to external stimuli – rats raised in plain and dull environments by themselves will have less brain mass than rats raised in rich and complex environments with other rats around.
This is the difference (biologically) between Europeans and my dear brothers and sisters in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is the reason there are no pyramids in Tanzania. For millennia, human beings have been able to thrive in Africa without using the kind of intelligence that goes into building pyramids or castles. And so, that type of intelligence didn’t develop.
Do you think this sort of thing went on in native American cultures? Hm? Mayan? Incan?
I’m so glad to have so much European DNA.
Do you realise how truly stupid that comment is.Pyramids were built in Egypt which is in AFRICA.Obviously your precious ‘European DNA’ did nothing for your intelligence.These sorts of problems are rife in every part of the world and in every country.This kind of evil knows no race,creed or colour.As an avid reader of this site,I am well aware that some of the most henious crimes have been committed by whites your so called EUROPEAN brothers and sisters.Lets focus on the matter at hand people.This is an abominable crime that should be punised by immediate execution.This isnt a platform to display your bigotry and racism.
Well MC Shall we have a look at some of your “Euro brothers”? Yes Lets shall
Lets start at the present and work our way back in time
hmmmmmm Yougo’s? They are still killing each other. Not in the number as they were in the 90′s but the killing is still going on. Ho many were slaughtered in the most disgusting and inhuman of ways we will never really know.
I live here in Germany. right in the heart of your Euro DMA bullshit soup. I read on the papers every fucking day where parents rape and murder thier kids. I see on the street the little shitheads trying to be “gansta” and laugh my ass off. Untill 3 years ago I got jumped by 5. I took out 3, got hit ove the back of the head with a brick. I was down. I took anoter one and they left me to bleed out. OH yah while I was down I got a knife in the ribs for my trouble. Nothing serious. when the cops came there was a decient crowd. They were just standing around looking. No help for me or the kids I beat. I was very pissed. From that moment on I decided to carry my Para Ord 13-45 every where I go.
Now what about that shithead in Austria who kept his daughter locked up for her entire life and raped her? Real nice DNA you got there pal.
Back a little to your good friend Schiggelgrueber. Little man. Came from Austria to Bavaria to fight for Germany in the first war to end all wars. You know him as Adolph Hitler. Lets not forget all his little followers who watched thier friends and neighbors be loaded in to train cars to parts “unknown” Real nice people. Over 6 million people were slaughtered, raped, tortured, used in expariments basicly treated less than lab rats.
Shall I go on with your oh sooooo wonderful Euro DNA? Huh boy? Please say yes.
OH! I bet that hurt MC. I bet that hurt alot. Now run along and pretend Mulch didn’t just hand you your ass on a silver platter.
I hate quasi-literates who try to make themselvs in to somthing they will never be becasue they are too ignorant and too full of themselvs.
If he does come back he will pick at my spelling and grammer siimply becasue he has nothing else. I say bring it.
1. “I’m so glad to have so much European DNA.”
That just sounded so silly.
2. Thanks for bringing this story to light.
The first time I saw a child with albinism upfront I told her I thought she had the prettiest hair color.
I think I made her day. She did smile and say thank you…
We need to just those people kill off each other. That country is so far gone no amount of help will do. They rape babies sell there own people into slavery. they also have the highest rate of AIDS in the world. Just let them all DIE.
Sorry if this offends but oh well…..
I just can’t believe this shit. All those innocent people dying for some ridiculous beliefs and greed… How can people just slaughter fellow human beings just for money. D:
I wish I could hear of a culture, somewhere in the world, who actually worship people born different or think they bring good luck (by being alive and well) or something like that for a change. X(
I can’t say for sure, but I believe I read once about some cultures in India who worship those born with what other countries would consider disabilities. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. If I can find some links, I’ll post ‘em!
Religious persecution has driven world history in all cultures. America was conquered by Spaniards for Gold and God, for instance. Some say we attacked Iraq for the same reasons. People like to point at Christianity as the only religion to do this, but the truth is Christianity is not even the first. Nor will it be the last.
In addition to stepping up the punishments for these kinds of crimes, the government also needs to focus on battling ignorance and poverty, both of which seem to be contributing here. That’s not to say that being ignorant and poor is an excuse for killing another human bein, of course — the people who are actually doing the killing would still be psychopaths regardless — but it seems to me that the market for albino body parts is directly related to poor education and the superstition that results from it.