How Ndumiso Majola uses poetry to dispel albinism myths
Ndumiso Majola blends his passion for medicine and poetry to advocate for those living with albinism, proving that creativity can break barriers.
Image: UKZN's College of Health Sciences / Facebook
At just 30 years old, Ndumiso Majola has combined his passion for medicine and the arts to create a compelling narrative around albinism.
A final-year medical student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and a member of the university's Voice Arts Club, Majola recently captivated an audience at the 9th Combined and 76th Dermatology Congress of South Africa in Durban with his poem, titled Genetics Genius - We Are Not Different.
Inspired by his friend, Dr Nokubonga Sabela, who lives with oculocutaneous albinism — an inherited condition that affects melanin production — Majola seeks to dismantle myths surrounding albinism through his words.
Sabela is a recently graduated medical doctor. She also matriculated from Majola’s alma mater, Velangaye High School in Nkandla.
“In rural areas, there’s a perception that people with albinism can be like this and like that. But when you learn about it, you understand that this is a person like any other person; they are not different. They have a condition that can be managed with certain precautions, and they don’t have those superpowers people assume they have,” Majola said.
“I was very inspired by how my friend, Dr Nokubonga Sabela, has been resilient. From high school, she was doing well and then secured medicine. I was putting myself in her shoes through conversations and interactions, just observing her living her life with this condition.”
Majola’s poem explains the technicalities of albinism, integrating essential keywords that highlight its genetic inheritance.
Beyond an academic discourse, the poem tackles significant challenges faced by those with the condition, such as heightened risks of skin cancer and visual impairments. He passionately draws parallels with the success stories of albinism activists, singers and actors like model Diandra Forrest, who embrace life and thrive despite their condition.
Through his poem, Majola implores the public to offer the same support to friends and family living with albinism.
He emphasised a personal approach when engaging with Sabela: “If I’m with my friend, I don’t act like she has some disability. It’s just a condition. I support her with whatever I can support her with, maybe emotionally or psychologically.”
Ndumiso Majola demonstrates how creativity can overcome obstacles by combining his love for medicine and poetry to champion individuals with albinism.
Image: UKZN's College of Health Sciences / Facebook
Majola is studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. For now, his heart is in family medicine because of its holistic approach to a patient.
He described himself as an artist, saying that from primary school, he started writing short stories, and then in high school, he started writing poems after he was exposed to how they are interpreted.
“You can place your emotions on paper, or whatever is happening. Trying to do what people like B.W. Vilakazi did in terms of fighting societal struggles through poetry. Also expressing your feelings,” Majola said.
He said the arts club is where one could voice out anything happening around, from feelings, awareness, and other things like taking part in how people interpret certain things.
“You can also pass knowledge through poetry,” Majola said.