LEE-ANN OLWAGE
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The Forgotten

According to the WHO worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.

Symptoms of dementia, which may lead to strange erratic behavior and memory dysfunction can easily be misread and in Sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous people living with dementia and Alzheimers are often “diagnosed” by traditional healers or witch doctors as being 'bewitched'. Because of the fear and stigma around witchcraft, indigenous people living with dementia are often banished, isolated, or chained on the outskirts of their community with very little food and water or live under constant threats of bodily harm and even death.


Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia (ADN) works amongst the indigenous Himba, Kavango, and Zambezi populations of Northern Namibia, using education to empower communities with knowledge about dementia as well as providing training to families so that people living with dementia can receive skilled care from within their own communities.

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Hikuminue Kapika (83), chief of the Himba tribe in his village in the Omuramba area in Epupa Namibia. Kapika’s sister, Ndjiinaa Ngombe, a person living with dementia, was ‘diagnosed’ as a witch by a witch doctor and chained in a hut in this village for 20 years. 18 October 2020
Ndjiinaa Ngombe (81), a Himba woman, and sister to Hikuminue Kapika (previous image), at the ADN Care Farm outside Swakopmund. After 20 years in chains, Ngombe was released with the help of Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia (ADN) and first cared for outside her village in Epupa for 18 months. Ngombe was never fully reintegrated into the Himba community because of the fear and stigma surrounding the disease and was moved to the ADN Care Farm for her own wellbeing. 24 October 2020.
Titus Ihemba (73), a person living with dementia from the Kavango tribe is pictured with his family in Sizongoro Village, Rundu. Accused of witchcraft and unable to clear his name despite being stripped of his wealth in lieu of fines by a witch doctor, Ihemba is still unable to live with his family due to threats from the community. 6 October 2020.
Titus Ihemba (73) is lovingly attended to by his daughter on a rare visit back to his family and village. 7 October 2020.
Titus Ihemba (73), in an empty kraal (a holding pen for cattle) in Sizongoro Village, Rundu. An African families wealth is measured in livestock and often
makes up the fines levied by witchdoctors. Ihemba was fined 85 cattle by the witch doctor for 4 unexplained deaths within the community which effectively left him bankrupt. 13 October 2020.
Portrait of Frankhilde Katumbu Haingura (48), a person living with
dementia from the Kavango tribe, at her ancestral home in Siya, Rundu. Haingura is often referred to as the ‘witch of Siya’ by her community and was brutally attacked and left for dead by her neighbours 8 years ago. 8 October 2020
Andreas Haingura (23) tenderly holds his mother Frankhilde Katumbu Haingura (48) outside the family home in Siya, Rundu. Andreas a high school student
at the time of the attack on his mother, remained alone in the family village for 6 years after Haingura fled following the attempt on her life. Having
completed his schooling Andreas has enrolled at the University of Namibia to study nursing and dementia care. Unlike many of the Namibian youth, Andreas is not a believer in witchcraft and is actively involved in community education about dementia. 8 October 2020
Aune Lumbala (80), a person living with dementia from the Kavango tribe at home in Sauyemwa township, Rundu. Lumbala was accused of being a witch by her son-in-law for causing the deaths of her daughter and granddaughter, who died of HIV. She was removed from her village for her own safety. 8
October 2020
Laurinda Tjimbango (101), a person living with dementia from Angola outside her home in the Mupini area, Rundu. Unable to walk after a botched surgery following a fall fleeing from taunting children Tjimbango is only able to move on her buttocks and is reliant on help from family. Tjimbango, already under accusation after not being able to bear children, was declared a witch during the early onset of dementia. 8 October 2020
Kapalingo Kahimbi (80), a person living with dementia from the Zambezi tribe in Ikoma village outside Katima Mulilo. When Kahimbi first started showing signs of dementia her son, Irvine Mushanana, went against the cultural beliefs that his mom was ‘bewitched’ and did his own research. Mushanana discovered Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia (ADN) who provided his family with the tools and education to care for his mom. 10 October 2020.
Kapalingo Kahimbi (80) in her home in Ikoma village. Each family member plays an important role in caring for Kahimbi and responsibilities include the preparing of meals, making sure she doesn’t wander away from the village to sleeping in her hut at night to care for her. The family structure provides key
support and is unique as in most cases dementia sufferers will be ostracized by their families because of the fear and stigma surrounding the disease. 10 October 2020
Joshua Lizazi Lukulo (101) from the Zambezi tribe in Ikoma Village, Katima Mulilo. As the most senior person in the village Lukulo is consulted on community affairs and daily village life. As a veteran of the second World War Lukulo is one of the few to have travelled outside of the community and brings experience and wisdom into his position. Lukulo is not living with dementia and is instrumental in overseeing the care of Kapalingo Kahimbi (previous image), a person
living with dementia. 10 October 2020
Koshi Mukoya Coster (58) a headman of the Mbukushu tribe sits under the tree in Mutjika Village, Divundu from where he oversees an area based tribal court. Although Coster believes in witchcraft and honors his cultures beliefs he uses his standing in the community to educate his tribe about dementia and demystifying the disease with the help of Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia . Leaders like Coster will bring much needed change by educating communities about dementia. 11 October 2020
Koshi Mukoya Coster (58) a headman of the Mbukushu tribe overseas a tribal court in Mutjika Village, Divundu. Witchcraft accusations are dealt with by the headman and the
community in tribal court. During a court session the
community gather in a circle under a tree while the accused
and witnesses stand in boxes drawn in the sand. 11 October
2020
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