I was rejected by record labels due to my albinism, poor eyesight – Byno Ayoni

Byno Ayoni, the winner of Mentor 12, has disclosed some challenges he has faced in his music career.

The musician who lives with albinism has said that society’s misconception about the condition has caused him a lot of deals as a musician.

He told DJ Slim on Daybreak Hitz that in pursuit of his dream to get into the limelight of the music industry, he had attended a number of auditions for bigger music business opportunities but the outcomes had usually been unsuccessful.

“I have been to a couple of auditions, done very well, gone back the next day and got the response that I did not look marketable enough because I am an albino.

My looks alone is not the excuse. They said I did not look marketable and then they would say because of the problem with the eyes of albinos, I would not be able to perform [at night] but then I would go for auditions and I would perform and they would say it’s good, ask me to come tomorrow. I would go and they will tell me to come another day all because of who I am,” he said.

Byno, however, noted that as more people are beginning to appreciate his talent more, the stigmatisation associated which his condition is waning.

Extolling the confidence he has in his talent regardless of his condition, he expressed pride in winning the ultimate prize in the Season 12 of TV3’s Mentor reality show.

Signed to Edem Goget’em’s Volta Regime Music Group, he has songs such as ‘I Dey Like’ and other collaborative works with Edem.

Albinism continues to be one of the dangerous stereotypes of the African society. Various misconceptions about people living with the condition have caused a lot of discrimination against albinos.

In extreme cases, some are kidnapped and murdered because some traditional cultures in Africa see the condition as a bad omen.

In the creative industry, one person who suffered stigmatisation as an albino in his own community in Mali, yet brazened it out to become a successful musician in the world, is Salif Keita. He got ostracised from his community, travelled to Cote d’Ivoire, Paris, London, and New York, where he had more freedom and the opportunity express his artistic potentials.

After gaining fame, he returned to his country and was well-accepted but he would not rest on his oars as he established the Salif Keita Global Foundation which enabled him to campaign against the stigma attached to albinism.

Ghana’s Byno Ayoni’s thoughts about the injustices against albinos is in tandem with Keita’s. He intends to use his current status and influence to drum home inclusivity of his ilk in all activities in society.

In the meantime, he is out with his latest musical piece, ‘Stand Firm’, a joint project with his boss, Edem.