Ayomitunde Adeleke

botanist and a self-taught documentary photographer

Sun,not Salt

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Clients: Wellcome Photography Prize , WorldpressPhoto, OpenSocietyFoundations , The Guardian UK PHmuseum

School: University of Lagos( Botany B.sc), Near East University ( Masters of Science) Nigerian Institue of Journalism

Victoria lost 2 siblings to ski... unfortunately it was too late.

Victoria lost 2 siblings to skin cancer, her brother and sister were exposed to harsh sunlight every day due to the nature of their jobs. This could have been avoided because symptoms were detected early but the family thought it was a spiritual attack and some thought was because they had salt in their meal. They were later taken to the hospital where they were properly diagnosed with skin cancer unfortunately it was too late.

Kolawole, died from skin cancer...t and doesn’t spread.

Kolawole, died from skin cancer he works at the Nigeria aviation, due to the nature of his job he was exposed excessively to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. He had a swollen eye which was thought to be a result of consumption of salt or spiritual attack. The first symptoms are usually sunburns, with every sunburn there is DNA damage, with repeated DNA damage the skin can no longer repair itself which develops into solar keratoses after which a Bowen’s disease is developed or a Jacobs ulcer. Basal cell carcinoma eats the skin on one spot and doesn’t spread.

Daniel is a friend of the famil...-covered clothes and a nice hat

Daniel is a friend of the family and checks up on Victoria regularly to keep her company. Daniel complained of some skin rashes while Victoria looked out to see if it was sunburn because she's more enlightened. She commended him for also protecting himself from sun rays by putting on well-covered clothes and a nice hat

Paul was in Abuja when he died ... he passed away March 8th, 2019

Paul was in Abuja when he died of skin cancer which got worse because of a lack of health care insurance for albinos and insufficient funds to carry out the major surgery required to save his life. Efforts were made in form of contributions of funds by the Lagos albino foundation but weren’t enough to save him he passed away March 8th, 2019

Sir white(34) worked at a wareh...m his thigh and transplanted it

Sir white(34) worked at a warehouse that deals with trucks and containers, after coming back from work his wife noticed a pimple on the left side of his face, which later was diagnosed to be skin cancer in February 2009. due to the nature of his job he was exposed excessively to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, this is where he developed a growth on the right side of his forehead . he was later scheduled for a major surgery involving a skin grafting procedure, they took some skin from his thigh and transplanted it

Because of his level of confide...ing and decided to take a break

Because of his level of confidence and tenacity, he challenged different stereotypes and got himself into a team, and started playing rugby as a hobby until he developed an injury in his back while playing and decided to take a break

Coco is a writer and a model sh... doesn’t include her.

Coco is a writer and a model she runs her lifestyle blog. She finds it hard to get modeling work because of prejudice against albinism, some companies do think about diversity but often in a simplistic way that doesn’t include her.

Dolapo (25) is a person living ... protect her skin from the sun.

Dolapo (25) is a person living with albinism who is a preschool teacher in a private primary school in Lagos. Her students are aged 3 to 5years old. Since the lockdown started Dolapo’s school started virtual learning, she had to change her glasses to help increase the power of her lens due to her condition (albinism). She has been required to teach from her laptop which strains her eyes unlike what she’s usually used to. Due to the economic state of things teachers’ salaries are been slashed in half which includes Dolapo’s as she finds it difficult to afford sunscreen to protect her skin from the sun.

Onome Majaro is the founder of ...s and staying safe as possible

Onome Majaro is the founder of OAM foundation, she created a group that is passionately committed to ending the discrimination against people living with albinism. Her focus is to stimulate a movement that roots out socio-cultural stereotypes about albinism in Nigeria and the world at large, also empowers people living with albinism. “I would love to advise a dark-skinned person to try and understand that albinism is not a curse nor a disease, it's just genetics, all we want is to be loved and respected equally" she advised people living with albinism to do the needful in taking care of themselves by taking preventive measures and staying safe as possible

Public Project

Sun,not Salt

Updated Feb 2022

Topics Civil Rights, Climate Change, Community, Culture stories, Disability, Documentary, Dying/Death, Education, Journalism, Personal Projects, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Justice

After working on climate / environmental stories over the last two years as a Botanist/Photographer, it makes sense for Ayomitunde to start an investigative
visual project where he investigates how climate change affects the lives of people
living with albinism. There’s evidence that rising temperatures are increasing the risk of skin cancer – a particular danger to people with albinism. In Nigeria, the connection is not always well understood, and people often think the symptoms are caused by eating too much salt. (Opara, K. O. and Jiburum, B. C. (2010). Skin cancers in albinos in a teaching Hospital in eastern Nigeria – presentation and challenges of care. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 8:73. Retrieved August 29, 2016)
With each passing day, climate change is becoming more than just a verbal
phenomenon and it has affected people across the world in various ways. In Nigeria, the heatwave has reached unbearable levels on several occasions and the rainy season cannot be juxtaposed with the dry season. The ripple effects of climate change have affected a sect of people greatly. Persons living with albinism are dying at an alarming rate due to the deteriorating weather conditions emanating from global climate change which makes them find life extremely difficult, as they cannot stand high temperatures. Skin cancers are a major risk associated with albinism and are thought to be a major cause of death in African albinos’ exposure to ultraviolet light appears to be the most important risk factor in the development of these cancers. Late presentation and failure to complete treatment due to financial difficulties and lack of health insurance made by the government are major challenges albinos in Nigeria face.
Facts and Figures
There are myths in Nigeria among different tribes like the Yorubas Hausas and many others attached to albinism, one of which is salt. It is believed that albinos should avoid food containing salt because it is believed to cause the proliferation of dark spots all over the albino skin. Symptoms caused by an extreme heatwave are mostly misinterpreted as symptoms gotten from eating salt While sticking with this misinformation, the affected albinos die. From Dr. Samuel Adesina Ademola (Department of Surgery, College of the Medicine University of Ibadan Nigeria) article titled AN ANALYSIS OF SKIN CANCER IN ALBINOS IN IBADAN. Gives an insight into the magnitude of dangers albinos are subjected to. About 1 in 20,000 people have the disorder. A study reported that 67% of primary skin cancer patients being treated at a hospital in Eastern Nigeria had the disorder (Opara, K. O., and Jiburum, B. C. (2010). Skin cancers in albinos in a teaching Hospital in eastern Nigeria – presentation and challenges of care. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, 8:73. Retrieved August 29, 2016)