Albinos Are Crying For Movie Roles

• Posted on July 17, 2012
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

We see physically challenged beings like the blind, dump, amputees, deaf, ugly, midgets, amongst others, in our movies but albinos are people most Ghanaian film makers have sidelined when it comes to casting for their movies.

We at GhanaSuperStars.Com, who are concerned about this situation, hit the streets and interviewed some albinos for their reactions. Below are some of the reactions we sampled:

FEMALE: I attend movie auditions all the time but they tell me they will get back to me but, they never call back.

MALE: I always have the urge to act but…..I feel shy because of my skin.

MALE: People have misconceptions about us.

MALE: Well I sometimes get the chance to act on stage but on screen, no. Am hoping for a day people will see me in movies because am that talented.

FEMALE: I hope you don’t want to make fun of me? (Walked away angrily)

FEMALE: Am sorry I can’t talk to you. (Politely)

MALE: I always attend movie auditions. I will never give up till I become the first albino movie star in Ghana just as Salif Keita is, as a musician.

FEMALE: I feel shy. I have the feeling they will mock me. I don’t want to be mocked in a movie but I wish to act.

MALE: Because of my sight I can’t see properly but I desire to act in movies.

MALE: My friend get out of my face before I curse you. I swear to God If I see my picture on your website I shall sue you! (Nearly punched GhanaSuperStars Reporter)

FEMALE: You’re from GhanaSuperStars and so? Excuse me. (Snubbed)

FEMALE: It is a form of discrimination against us. I shall wage a campaign against it someday when I become a lawyer.

After our poll, we got in touch with an expert who works for an NGO that protects the rights of albinos in Ghana and other African countries like Gambia where most albinos are killed for money rituals and discriminated against. He gave us some vital information on albinos.

“A lot of uninformed people have been stereotyped with misconceptions about albinos. Some say albinos are people given birth to by adulterous wives. Others say God did not finish creating them before they came into this world, hence their looks. Some even claim albinos don’t die; they varnish when it’s time for them to die. All these are age-old scientifically unproven negative, untrue and unfounded misconceptions which are still firmly rooted in the minds of thousands of Ghanaians till date but shrouded in secrecy. Movies are one influential tool our movie-makers can use to address or wash off these negative perceptions about albinos. Am glad you guys have chosen to write on such a topic. I shall be glad to read your findings on your medium (GhanaSuperStars.Com). Keep up the good work”.

The series of questions GhanaSuperStars.Com pose to you our revered readers are; don’t you believe the absence of albinos in our movies sends a signal of discrimination against them? Is it not time to start casting albinos for our movies? Or their personalities will not sell movies? Which Ghanaian movie maker do you think could be the first to make an albino movie star in Ghana- Socrate Sarfo, Leila Djansi, Venus Film Production, and Shirley Frimpong Manson? Do you think our film makers should heed to these clarion call by albinos? Please share your thoughts on this sensitive topic.

Credit: ghanasuperstar.com