This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On a sunny day in Kenya, a 24-year-old journalism graduate named Allan Herbert made history with his team, the Black Albinism Football Club, as they took to the pitch in their debut match. Founded by Herbert, the team is a pioneering effort to bring people with albinism together and fight for their space in the country.
Herbert, who grew up with albinism, knew he was different, but he never experienced the same level of stigmatism and discrimination as his peers. However, he was often shielded from the sun by his peers, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by people with albinism in Kenya.
According to Senator Isaac Mwaura, Kenya's first and only lawmaker living with albinism, people with albinism suffer because they are caught between two worlds - not black enough, not white enough, and not disabled enough. This sense of not belonging has led to brutal ritual killings and stigmatization across East Africa.
But Herbert's team is determined to change this narrative. With football as their tool, they aim to bring people together and break down barriers. As Herbert said, "Football brings people of different diversity together, and when we decided on a sport, we said football is the easiest, and it is also in the school curriculum so people relate with it easier."
On the day of their debut match, the team carried the day 4-2 in a penalty shootout, marking a significant step towards their dream of playing in the Kenyan premier league and representing their country on the international stage.
As Herbert celebrated with his teammates, he emphasized that they are not different in any way, except for their skin tone and eyesight. "We are not different in any way. The only thing is our skin is a bit pale and we have issues with our eyesight. But that does not make us less as people," he said.
