Calling me 'Ofri' is ignorant - Abbla Unique

Ghanaian musician Abbla Unique has shared that calling persons living with albinism ‘Ofri’ is ignorant and disrespectful.

In an interview with Berla Mundi on TV3’s The Day Show, the singer pointed out that while some people use the term out of ignorance, others intend it as an insult.

She emphasised that the word doesn’t affect her personally, but she refuses to tolerate its use as an insult.

In cases where she is called the word, she either leaves the venue or educates the person, especially if they are young.

“In some instances where clearly the word is being used as an insult, I would not put up with it. I would leave. Or if it’s an underage person, I usually get into an educative mode where I’m like, ‘you know, you can just call me as auntie if you don’t know. But Ofrii is not the best word to call me,’” she said.

She recounted instances where children and adults alike have shown curiosity about her skin, often touching it to see if the colour would come off.

Abbla also shared a recent experience at a salon where an assistant questioned if she had blood, highlighting the misconceptions people have about albinism.

“Sometimes, they’re curious. They want to touch my skin. They smear it with their fingers and then check if maybe it’s going to come off. And there are adults who do that too. To see if it will come off they don’t believe that a human being can be this pale. And they ask me all the time, do you have blood?” she said.

Abbla Unique is an upcoming figure in the Afrobeat genre, known for her ability to blend traditional African sounds with modern elements.

Drawing inspiration from her Ghanaian heritage, he combines highlife, jazz, and funk to create captivating music that resonates globally. Her songs, characterized by catchy rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics, address societal issues, love, and unity.

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