The experience people living with albinism is highlighted in White Yet Black, a film that raises awareness of and dispels myths around albinism in southern Africa.
“I’m on a mission to tell positive stories of the continent and stories that amplify voices of those in society who are not ordinarily heard.”
Director Steven Chikosi and producer Tsitsi Madhodha are on a mission to tell positive stories that can promote positive change and amplify the voices of marginalised communities on the African continent. Their joint passion for storytelling and film-making drove them to delve into the myths and lived experiences of people living with albinism in southern Africa.
Authentic voices, positive tales
The resulting documentary, White Yet Black, raises awareness of issues such as discrimination and persecution that people with albinism face, particularly in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa, and dispels myths and misconceptions around albinism.
“The film covers various themes in relation to people with albinism, such as education, religion, discrimination, finding love, advocacy, health, and self-love, and is creatively told through interviews and poetry. Films of this nature have been told before and they have raised awareness no doubt. We feel that what is unique is Africans telling their own stories and educating/raising awareness on an issue that affects fellow Africans,” said Chikosi.
It was Madhodha’s background in media studies and her observations of how Africa is portrayed in the media that motivated her to contribute authentic African stories.
“My belief is that people relate to people and by connecting with people on a personal level, we can promote positive change and amplify the voices of marginalised communities in Africa. This is what drives my ongoing commitment to my work.”
Chikosi’s case was similar. She got to see how stories from Africa were told by people living outside of the continent.
“Having lived outside the continent for a while, I noticed that stories from home were difficult to find, and this inspired a desire to tell. I’m on a mission to tell positive stories of the continent and stories that amplify voices of those in society who are not ordinarily heard.”
Filming during a pandemic
The documentary was made during the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed a unique set of challenges.
Restrictions and risks to do with health and safety were a constant concern, compelling the team to navigate the complicated political and cultural landscapes of the regions they filmed in while ensuring that the perspectives and voices of people with albinism were accurately portrayed.
“A significant challenge was capturing the story from the viewpoint of people with albinism. Before filming, the crew consulted with people with albinism from different countries to understand their diverse individual experiences, although they faced common issues. We wanted to give everyone a chance to tell their story in their own unique way.
“However, to bring everything together, we decided to find things everyone had in common, that would tie them together, that is they were all African, human and this is what we hope the viewers will take away … that past the differences in absence/presence of melanin we are all just the same,” Chikosi said.
Lessons learned
In making the film, Chikosi learned that working closely and communicating with local communities and organisations is vitally important to ensure the accurate portrayal of the experiences and perspectives of people with albinism.
“We also faced several logistical challenges while filming during the pandemic, which highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships for collaboration with creatives within southern Africa. Looking back, given the evolution, developments and milestones of issues within the albinism communities in southern Africa especially in Malawi, it would have been beneficial to have more time to integrate new developments and milestones into the documentary. Nonetheless, we believe that the issues addressed in the film remain highly relevant and impactful.”
Positive reception
Since release, White Yet Black has had a significant impact and gained positive feedback. The film has also been submitted to various film festivals and has been shortlisted for will lead to increased advocacy and activism. We would love it if the film could be used in learning institutions and other organisations for advocacy purposes,” said Chikosi.
Chikosi expressed gratitude for OSISA’s in creating the film. The organisation assisted with technical support and film festival submissions. and won a number of film competitions. Chikosi and Madhodha hope that this will lead to even more exposure.
“Media coverage of the documentary has helped raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with albinism and promote social change. The film has sparked conversations about the discrimination and violence faced by people with albinism.
“Our hope is that this will lead to increased advocacy and activism. We would love it if the film could be used in learning institutions and other organisations for advocacy purposes,” said Chikosi.
“Moreover, we learned of the positive impact that collaborating with local organisations has on promoting social change. OSISA offered a customised approach to supporting individual projects and this personalised support allowed us to tailor our project and bring our vision to life,” said Chikosi.
Chikosi and Madhodha’s goal is to tell more stories that have an impact across the continent. Their current project is a story that advocates against the death penalty.
