May 26, 2025

Olsztyn, Poland

Raising awareness of albinism through visual storytelling and expert insights.

A photo exhibition Born Different and a lecture by Antonio Cossa were key parts of the international scientific conference Dni Afryki (Days of Africa), held on May 26, 2025, at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. The conference and exhibitions gathered experts and academics from Poland and various African countries. Antonio Cossa delivered a lecture on ritual killings of people with albinism in Zambia and on the survivors of these attacks, highlighting the challenges they face in their everyday lives. He also focused on the most recently documented case of the murdered albino Michael Simuntala, which occurred in February 2025 on the Zambian-Tanzanian border documented by the Born Different project.

April 8–9, 2025

Lusaka, Zambia

Uniting stakeholders from across Africa to protect the rights of people with albinism

The Born Different project took part in the All-African Zambia Learning Forum 2025, a major event on albinism organized by the Africa Albinism Network in Lusaka, Zambia. Local representatives James Kalele and Amos Banda engaged in discussions on promoting and protecting the rights of people with albinism. The forum gathered over 60 stakeholders from Zambia, Eastern, and Southern Africa, including NGOs, government, academia, and international human rights sectors. Born Different highlighted outreach programs supporting abandoned single mothers with children with albinism, survivors of ritual attacks, and vulnerable women facing sexual violence. They stressed the need for advocacy to demystify albinism, health support for skin cancer victims, and protection for survivors of attacks.

February 25, 2025

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Sharing strategies to combat ritual attacks and support survivors of ritual attacks

Katerina Mildnerová delivered a lecture on the Born Different project, focusing on ritual killings of people with albinism in Zambia, to students of history at the Department of History, Political Sciences, and Development Studies at the College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam. Tanzania experienced a significant surge in ritual attacks on people with albinism between 2000 and 2015, resulting in hundreds of victims. International media attention and awareness campaigns led the Tanzanian government to implement measures that have since greatly reduced these attacks. The lecture and discussion centered on effective strategies to reduce ritual killings, which are currently rising in neighboring Zambia. Since 2015, Zambia has become a source country for the illegal trade in body parts of people with albinism.

October 7, 2024

Kalulushi, Zambia

Exploring Cultural Myths and Promoting Inclusion

Katerina Mildnerova lectured on her anthropological research on albinism and presented the Born Different project to students at Zambia Catholic University. The open and stimulating debate with students and teachers explored the challenges faced by people with albinism in Zambia, in particular the cultural myths surrounding albinism, and ways to promote awareness, inclusion, and social change.

September 19–20, 2024

Lancaster, United Kingdom

Addressing witchcraft-related violence through global academic dialogue

Katerina Mildnerová had the privilege of presenting Born Different research findings with a paper on ritual killings of people with albinism in Zambia. The conference, held on September 19–20, 2024, at Lancaster University, was attended by international representatives from academia, international NGOs, and the UN human rights sector. The event, titled Witchcraft and Human Rights. Past, Present, Future, focused on practical issues in implementing UN Resolution 47/8, which seeks to eradicate ritual killings linked to accusations of witchcraft. Collaboration with other researchers in Africa who are mapping ritual killings of people with albinism in Tanzania and Malawi is a crucial part of the Born Different project.

6.–20. October 2024

Olomouc, Gallery of Social Photography

The Department of Sociology, Andragogy and Cultural Anthropology of the Palacky University Olomouc organised a photographic exhibition Born different by Mozambican photojournalist Antonio Cossa and Czech photographer Monika Dražilová at the Gallery of Social Photography in Olomouc. The opening of the exhibition took place in the presence of students, academics and the general public on 6^th of October as part of the university-wide event Night of Scientists. The exhibition focused on the everyday life of children with albinism in Zambia, their inner world amidst complex social realities, experiences of social stigma, discrimination, social isolation, loneliness and fear. The exhibition also included an anthropological section presenting amateur photographs (photo diaries) of children with albinism in Zambia, organized by Kateřina Mildnerová and Josefína Kufová.

23 – 30. September 2024

Krakow, Jagiellonian University Museum Collegium Maius

The Jagiellonian Research Center for African Studies in cooperation with the Jagiellonian University Museum Collegium Maius and the Palacky University Olomouc organized a photographic exhibition Born different which provided an intimate insight into the everyday lives of people with albinism in two African countries – Zambia and Benin. While in Zambia, they are ritually killed, mutilated, abducted and discriminated against, in Benin they are considered sacred persons worshipped within the traditional religion of Vodun. The exhibition, together with a guided tour, opened on 17^th of May 2024 on the occasion of the Museum Night Festival, an event when museums, galleries, and other cultural sites stay open until midnight and provide various cultural programs for free. The exhibition was officially opened on 23^rd of June on the occasion of the VII Congress of Polish Africanists. The event was attended by Polish and Czech academics, students and the general public with the participation of Polish media.  Main output of this event is an exhibition catalogue in English and Polish.

13. – 30. June 2024

Lusaka, Alliance Française de Lusaka

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Lusaka in cooperation with the Alliance Française de Lusaka organized a photographic exhibition by Mozambican photojournalist Antonio Cossa on ritual killings of people with albinism in Zambia. The opening of the exhibition took place at the gallery of  Alliance Française on 13^th of June, the day of International Albinism Awareness Day.  The composed evening, which also included a lecture by Czech anthropologist Kateřina Mildnerová, was attended by several distinguished guests – notably Ambassador Pavel Procházka of the Czech Republic, Mozambican High Commissioner Mónica Mussa, Ms. Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by people with albinism, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the media. The event attracted a large interest among participants and drew attention of the Zambian media.