Twenty-nine-year-old Cameroonian Nicole Whitney Ebenye never met her father. He abandoned her and her mother when she was two months old because she had the rare genetic condition albinism, which gave her light-coloured eyes and fair skin.
Like Nicole, thousands of other Cameroonians have had to grapple with the stigma associated with albinism, which causes the absence or lower than normal levels of the pigment melanin in the skin, hair and eyes.
“It is painful to grow up as a child knowing you were rejected over some phenomenon you had no control over,” says Ms Ebenye, who lives in the coastal city of Limbe.
In Cameroon and other West African countries, people with albinism can face discrimination rooted in superstition and lack of awareness about the condition.
According to a 2019 UN report, newborns with albinism are often killed immediately after delivery, but falsely reported as stillborn.
Like many of Cameroon’s estimated 2,200 people with albinism, Ms Ebenye has found life difficult in a hostile society.
“I had to learn self-confidence and be resilient from a very young age,” she said.
Ms Ebenye told The National she had faced critical comments about her skin and felt people looked down on her because of her condition.
Seeking support wherever she could, it was Facebook that transformed her life, she says.
In 2017, curious to know if others shared her experience, Ms Ebenye used social media for the first time to explore the issue.
“I saw people with albinism from Cameroon, Nigeria and other countries post pictures of themselves on Facebook. They were vocal and confident, which changed my perspective,” she said.
In 2018, Ms Ebenye came across the Facebook page of Association des Femmes Albinos du Cameroun – the Cameroon Association of Albino Women – founded in 2010 by Marie Madeleine Wafo.
The group aims to establish statistics on albinism in the absence of government data and work with people with the condition to improve their lives.
“I use personal and very limited resources to travel in Cameroon to meet and work with persons with albinism and to try to have some statistics that are not available at the level of the government,” said Ms Wafo.
“Some parents still maltreat their albino children, while many have learnt to accept and treat them well,” she said.
Miss Albino Cameroon
The group offers a rare space where people with albinism can freely challenge stereotypes associated with their condition.
The organisation has been running the Miss Albino Cameroon beauty pageant since 2016 to challenge mainstream beauty standards, and to encourage albinos to appreciate their appearance.
“I reached out to them and participated in their beauty pageant on the day of the final in 2018 … the confidence of the beautiful boys and girls on the runway truly inspired me,” Ms Ebenye recalled.
The number of participants in the pageant has almost tripled over the past seven years, indicating an increase in self-confidence among albinos. The pageants are also attended by non-albinos, suggesting a positive change in attitude among wider society.
Ndong Sandrah Chiembzi, winner of the 2023 competition, said she always dreamt of living free of prejudice.
The 20-year-old, whose five brothers do not have albinism, says her family encouraged her to enter the contest.
She says her mother and younger brother had been highly supportive.
“My younger brother has assumed the position of my manager and goes to all events where I have to speak with me. He is a wonderful source of support,” Ms Chiembzi told The National.
“Now parents reach out to me quite often to ask how they can help their children with albinism,” she says.
Raising awareness
Even though the government in Cameroon recognises the country’s people with albinism as a marginalised group – ensuring admission to public institutions and waiving school fees – they still face exclusion.
According to the UN report, children with albinism in Cameroon are often denied access to education for health reasons, particularly eye problems.
People with albinism’s low level or absence of melanin can cause poor eyesight, astigmatism, and photophobia among other issues, according to the UK’s National Health Service.
As adults, they continue to face discrimination and often cannot get jobs, driving many to stop interacting socially, further limiting their opportunities.
Despite these challenges, many people with albinism in Cameroon have carved out successful livelihoods.
Ms Ebenye, for example, works in the stores accounting department at the Douala General Hospital by day.
With the help of Cameroonian celebrities like comedian Kwoh Elonge and hip-hop artist Boy Tag – who himself has albinism – Ms Ebenye’s foundation strives to erase the social stigma through drama skits and songs on social media.
Elonge is a researcher, writer, journalist and comedian, and the man behind the popular comic character Auntie Felicia, who he plays in live stand-up comedy shows and online comedy skits.
The character is an influential woman who stands for what is right, despite her boastful and argumentative nature.
Elonge said that as someone committed to changing behaviour through communication, he wanted to take part in a comedy skit with the Born to Dazzle Foundation.
In the skit, Auntie Felicia’s initial hostility to her son proposing to a woman with albinism is overcome as her future daughter-in-law takes the time to deconstruct various myths about the condition.
The skit is especially notable because it ends with Auntie Felicia yielding to another person’s opinion in an argument – which is out of character for her – and embracing her albino daughter-in-law.
“I am aware of the dangers of one-sided communication, so I wanted to add my voice … to contribute to the unlearning of the misconceptions around people with albinism. Comedy makes the communication light-hearted and people learn so much while laughing,” said Elonge.
The skit on albinism was viewed by more than 300,000 people on Facebook alone, he said.
However, some experts are unhappy with how, in general, people with albinism are portrayed on social media.
Nfor George Kisob, a social worker and human rights advocate with the National Human Rights Commission in Cameroon, who has worked closely with the albino community, is among those who are critical.
“Social media skit makers use albinos to joke about their vision problem, which is the common form of disability, in addition to their skin problem, instead of giving them roles that build confidence,” said Mr Kisob.
This story has been published in collaboration with Egab
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
