Growing Up with Albinism in Tanzania

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Photographer

Matilde Simas
Prize

2nd Place / Event/Social Cause
Company/Studios

Matilde Simas
Date of Photograph

Feb. 2019
Technical Info

1/400 shutter, f/2, 35mm Canon EOS R
Socials
Website

https://www.matildesimas.com

“I constantly live in fear of people who want to hurt me.” Pendo, an 18-year-old Tanzanian girl with albinism, had her right arm chopped off in a violent superstition-driven attack. She was brought to New York for treatment by the Global Medical Relief Fund, a charity that aids children who have been injured in conflict or disaster. Slayings and dismemberment of people with Albinism are common in Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, where their body parts are used in witchcraft to create potions believed to bring riches, success, power or sexual conquest.

Biography

Matilde Simas is an advocate and documentary photographer whose work confronts human rights violations, with a focus on gender-based violence, human trafficking, and marginalized communities. Through powerful imagery and ethical storytelling, she amplifies the voices of survivors and brings global attention to often overlooked issues. Her work has helped influence awareness campaigns, inform policy discussions, and support grassroots organizations across Africa, Asia, and the U.S.
Awards

Matilde Simas’s powerful images have earned international recognition, including a Gold Award from the PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, honors from the International Photography Awards, and features by the United Nations. She was a keynote speaker at a UNICEF event on child protection and continues to present her work at global photography and human rights forums. Notably, she screened her film on forced marriage at Photo Israel, one of the world’s leading international photography festivals. Her work has been exhibited globally, including at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia in Rome, the Kenyan National Archives, and during Paris Photo Week. She is currently touring her documentary film Woman Rising across state houses in the U.S. to ignite critical dialogue and advocate for stronger legislation protecting survivors of human trafficking. The tour began at the Maine State House, where the film contributed to conversations that supported the passage of legislation establishing protocols for law enforcement to better assist survivors. It has since expanded to the Massachusetts State House. Woman Rising has also been screened for the District Attorney’s Office, social service providers, and at film festivals including the Rhode Island International Film Festival, further amplifying its impact as a tool for awareness and systemic reform.