# Josephat Torner > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Josephat_Torner > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Josephat_Torner.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephat_Torner > Source revision: 1289841834 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Josephat Torner** (1977/1978 – 12 April 2020) was a Tanzanian [albino](/source/Albinism) activist. He was featured in the documentary *In the Shadow of the Sun*. ## Activism Torner was born in Ngwangwege, near [Lake Victoria](/source/Lake_Victoria).[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[1] Torner at one point worked as a teacher.[2] Since 2004 Torner was an activist for albino rights.[4][5] In 2006 he gave up his teaching job, to focus full time on his activism.[2] Torner travelled around Tanzania and the world to educate on knowledge of albinism and on [persecution of people with albinism](/source/Persecution_of_people_with_albinism).[4] Torner worked for the Ukerewe Albino Association on [Ukerewe Island](/source/Ukerewe_Island).[6] 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.[4] He climbed [Mount Kilimanjaro](/source/Mount_Kilimanjaro) to attract attention for his cause. He reached the top on 8 August 2011.[7] Torner said he climbed the mountain to show African countries: "that we are able. But [also] protect us, give us a chance, don't stigmatize, don't isolate, don't hide us to the darkness room -- just open the way".[4] [Elizabeth May](/source/Elizabeth_May), leader of the [Green Party of Canada](/source/Green_Party_of_Canada) subsequently called him an international hero and compared him with [Terry Fox](/source/Terry_Fox).[8] Torner had plans to climb [Mount Everest](/source/Mount_Everest) in 2016.[1] In 2018 Torner climbed Mount Kilimanjaro again.[2] Torner survived two attacks on his life.[2] He criticized the Tanzanian government for not doing enough to educate others on misconceptions and superstitions regarding albinism.[9] To raise more awareness and acceptance for albinos in Tanzania, Torner founded the [Josephat Torner Foundation Europe](https://www.jtfe.org/) 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 roastery [Usawa Coffee](https://www.usawa.coffee/) where Tanzanian specialty coffee is roasted and sold, with part of the profits going to the Josephat Torner Foundation Europe[3] On 12 April 2020, Torner was killed in [Mwanza](/source/Mwanza) at age 42 when he was hit by a motorist while crossing the street.[10] ## Personal life Torner was married and had three children.[4] ## References 1. Emile Costard (17 March 2015). ["Le combat de Josephat Torner pour la protection des albinos en Tanzanie"](http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/03/17/le-combat-de-josephat-torner-pour-la-protection-des-albinos-en-tanzanie_4595118_3212.html) (in French). *[Le Monde](/source/Le_Monde)*. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. Tonny van der Mee (16 November 2019). ["Albino Josephat Torner: 'Ik heb de dood geroken, maar ben niet bang'"](https://www.ed.nl/brabant/albino-josephat-torner-ik-heb-de-dood-geroken-maar-ben-niet-bang~ad918236/) (in Dutch). Eindhovens Dagblad. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200118152656/https://www.ed.nl/brabant/albino-josephat-torner-ik-heb-de-dood-geroken-maar-ben-niet-bang~ad918236/) 18 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 1. Ad de Koning. ["Josephat uit Tanzania: Als Albino in Afrika stierf je niet, je verdween"](https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/josephat-uit-tanzania-als-albino-in-afrika-stierf-je-niet-je-verdween~af979c31/) (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171103225556/https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/josephat-uit-tanzania-als-albino-in-afrika-stierf-je-niet-je-verdween~af979c31/) 3 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. 1. Teo Kermeliotis and Earl Nurse (9 June 2014). ["'We are killed, we are hunted': Albino activist fights witchcraft murders"](https://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/17/world/africa/josephat-torner-albinism-tanzania/). [CNN](/source/CNN). Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. ["Albino Activism in Tanzania: VICE News Meets Josephat Torner"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/albino-activism-in-tanzania-vice-news-meets-josephat-torner/). [Vice News](/source/Vice_News). 18 February 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. Jennifer Nkem-Eneanya (20 January 2014). ["Josephat Torner; 'Albino,' Able and Proud!"](http://www.konnectafrica.net/josephat-torner-albino-able-and-proud/). Konnect Africa. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. ["Fida's disability activist climbed Kilimanjaro"](http://www.fidadevelopment.fi/?id=410&selArticle=305). Fida. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. ["Josephat Torner: A person with albinism - a Tanzanian Hero"](https://greenparty.ca/fr/node/3149). [Green Party of Canada](/source/Green_Party_of_Canada). 15 August 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. Dan Gilgoff (10 October 2013). ["As Tanzania's Albino Killings Continue, Unanswered Questions Raise Fears"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131011141014/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131011-albino-killings-witch-doctors-tanzania-superstition/). [National Geographic](/source/National_Geographic_Society). Archived from [the original](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131011-albino-killings-witch-doctors-tanzania-superstition/) on October 11, 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2015. 1. Van der Mee, Tonny (13 April 2020). ["Albino-gemeenschap verliest boegbeeld Josephat Torner door verkeersongeluk"](https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/albino-gemeenschap-verliest-boegbeeld-josephat-torner-door-verkeersongeluk~afbae802/) (in Dutch). *AD*. Retrieved 14 April 2020. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Josephat Torner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephat_Torner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephat_Torner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.