Josephat Torner (1977/1978 – 12 April 2020) was a Tanzanian

albino Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and reddish pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albinos. Varied use and interpretation of ...

activist. He was featured in the documentary ''In the Shadow of the Sun''.

Activism

Torner was born in Ngwangwege, near

Lake Victoria Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. With a surface area of approximately , Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake by area, the world's largest tropics, tropical lake, and the world's second-largest fresh water lake by surface are ...

. Torner stated that his mother was told by the midwife to poison him, but did not do so, instead encouraging him to go to school. When he was twelve his mother died. Torner then came into contact with a Pentecostal church and then followed his secondary education. Torner subsequently moved to Sweden and studied management for three years. Torner at one point worked as a teacher. Since 2004 Torner was an activist for albino rights. In 2006 he gave up his teaching job, to focus full time on his activism. Torner travelled around Tanzania and the world to educate on knowledge of albinism and on

persecution of people with albinism Persecution of people with albinism (sometimes abbreviated PWA) is based on the belief that certain body parts of albinistic people hold supernatural powers. Such beliefs are present in some parts of the African Great Lakes region, and have be ...

. Torner worked for the Ukerewe Albino Association on

Ukerewe Island Ukerewe Island (''Kisiwa cha Ukerewe'', in Swahili) is a freshwater island located in Lake Victoria. The island is administratively part of Ukerewe District in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. The island fifth-largest lake island in the world. With an ar ...

. Torner worked together with director Harry Freeland on the documentary ''In the Shadow of the Sun''. The pair worked together on the project for six years. In the documentary Torner amongst other things confronts a local witchdoctor, who are frequently involved in persecution of albinos. He climbed

Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro () is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at above sea level and above its plateau base. It is also the highest volcano i ...

to attract attention for his cause. He reached the top on 8 August 2011. Torner said he climbed the mountain to show African countries: "that we are able. But lsoprotect us, give us a chance, don't stigmatize, don't isolate, don't hide us to the darkness room -- just open the way".

Elizabeth May Elizabeth Evans May (born June 9, 1954) is a Canadian politician, environmentalist, lawyer, activist, and author. She has served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Saanich—Gulf Islands since 2011. May is the leader of the Green Party ...

, leader of the

Green Party of Canada The Green Party of Canada () is a federal political party in Canada, founded in 1983 with a focus on green politics. The Green Party is currently the fifth largest party in the House of Commons by seat count. It elected its first member of ...

subsequently called him an international hero and compared him with

Terry Fox Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28, 1958June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, having had one leg amputated due to cancer, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for can ...

. Torner had plans to climb

Mount Everest Mount Everest (), known locally as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level. It lies in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas and marks part of the China–Nepal border at it ...

in 2016. In 2018 Torner climbed Mount Kilimanjaro again. Torner survived two attacks on his life. He criticized the Tanzanian government for not doing enough to educate others on misconceptions and superstitions regarding albinism. To raise more awareness and acceptance for albinos in Tanzania, Torner founded th
Josephat Torner Foundation Europe
Together with Pieter Staadegaard they have successfully set up various projects to promote equality for people with albinism. Pieter Staadegaard has even started a coffee roaster
Usawa Coffee
where Tanzanian specialty coffee is roasted and sold, with part of the profits going to the Josephat Torner Foundation Europe On 12 April 2020, Torner was killed in

Mwanza Mwanza City, also known as Rock City to the residents, is a port city and capital of Mwanza Region on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in north-western Tanzania. With an urban population of 1,104,521 and a population of 3,699,872 in the region ...

at age 42 when he was hit by a motorist while crossing the street.

Personal life

Torner was married and had three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Torner, Josephat 1970s births 2020 deaths People with albinism Tanzanian activists Year of birth missing Road incident deaths in Tanzania Pedestrian road incident deaths