It is a sad and tragic fact that people living with Albinism (a genetic condition resulting in little or no pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes) in East Africa are persecuted and literally hunted, based on the belief that their body parts can transmit magical powers & that they are in some way “demonic.” As a result, they are regularly killed and dismembered— often while still alive— which has led most to understandably live in fear. As if adding insult to already unthinkable injury, many of the women are also subjected to rape due to the ugly myth that having sex with them can cure AIDS.

In 2016, producer and author Ian Brennan (best known for producing Tinariwen’s Grammy-winning album, Tassili, as well as Six Degrees’ two critically lauded Zomba Prison Project releases) traveled to Ukerewe, the largest inland island in Africa which can only be reached by an over packed four-hour ferry ride. It is a place so remote that historically people often traveled there to abandon their children with albinism and now serves as a haven for many with the condition.

There, he worked with members of the Standing Voice community, who volunteered for songwriting workshops. Brennan encouraged them to write about their experiences and to express what they wanted others to understand about their existence. But even among the willing, singing-out proved hard within a group that routinely avoided eye contact, rarely spoke above a whisper, and were unaccustomed to dancing.

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Tanzania Albinism Collective "Life Is Hard"

Six Degrees Records produces and markets accessible, genre-bending records that explore world music traditions, modern dance grooves, electronic music, and overlooked pop gems. The label’s catchphrase, “everything is closer than you think,” is a real reflection of Six Degrees’ commitment to different styles of music that appeal to a curious and increasingly sizable audience.