If you are African and grew up in Africa, you might relate to this.
Growing up, many of us didn’t learn about disability through education or medical understanding. We learned through stories, quiet warnings, cultural explanations, and assumptions repeated so often they felt like facts. A child born differently became a mystery to explain, a situation to spiritualise, or sometimes a secret to hide. Over time, these beliefs shaped how we saw people with disabilities – often without us even noticing.
The world itself once viewed disability through lenses other than medical, genetic, or environmental understanding. But as knowledge grows, societies everywhere are learning one important truth: disability is not a tragedy, exclusion is.
Many of these beliefs were never questioned because they were all we knew. Passed from generation to generation, they shaped attitudes, language, and even how families treated their loved ones. Today, we take a closer look at some of the most common myths about disability and where they truly come from.
Myth 1: Disability is a curse or punishment
In many communities, disability is sometimes linked to wrongdoing, sin, or ancestral anger.
Where this belief comes from:
Before medical explanations were widely available, spiritual interpretations helped people make sense of conditions they didn’t understand. Over time, these explanations became accepted truths.
Reality:
Disabilities can result from genetics, illness, injury, or birth complications – not punishment.
Myth 2: Disabled children from wealthy families are sacrifices for wealth
Some people whisper that when a wealthy family has a disabled child, the child must be connected to rituals or sacrifices made for riches.
Where this belief comes from:
Suspicion toward sudden wealth, combined with traditional beliefs about spiritual exchanges, created narratives that try to “explain” success through superstition.
Reality:
Disability has medical causes. Associating children with rituals dehumanises them and harms families emotionally and socially.
Myth 3: Disability is contagious
People sometimes avoid touching or interacting closely with persons with disabilities out of fear.
Where this belief comes from:
Historical fear of infectious diseases and lack of health education caused people to wrongly group disability with illness.
Reality:
Most disabilities are not infectious and cannot be “caught.”
Myth 4: Mothers are to blame for a child’s disability
Questions are often directed at mothers: What did she do wrong?
Where this belief comes from:
Cultural expectations place responsibility for childbirth outcomes almost entirely on women, especially where reproductive health knowledge was limited.
Reality:
Disabilities may arise from multiple biological or environmental factors – blame has no scientific basis.
Myth 5: People with disabilities cannot contribute to society
Some assume education or investment in disabled individuals is a wasted effort.
Where this belief comes from:
Limited visibility of people with disabilities in public life due to inaccessible environments reinforced assumptions of incapability.
Reality:
When barriers are removed, people with disabilities thrive academically, professionally, and socially.
Myth 6: Some disabled children are spiritual beings (Abiku/Ogbanje)
Children with recurring illnesses or developmental conditions may be labeled supernatural.
Where this belief comes from:
Traditional belief systems attempted to explain repeated childhood illness and mortality before modern healthcare existed.
Reality:
Many of these cases are now medically understood conditions requiring care, not spiritual labeling.
Myth 7: Disability should be hidden from society
Families sometimes keep disabled relatives indoors to avoid stigma.
Where this belief comes from:
Fear of community judgment and cultural pressure surrounding family reputation.
Reality:
Isolation increases stigma, while inclusion builds understanding and dignity.
Myth 8: Prayer alone can “fix” disability
Families may be encouraged to seek only spiritual solutions.
Where this belief comes from:
Strong religious traditions and hope for healing when medical resources were limited.
Reality:
Faith and medical care can coexist. Therapy, education, and support greatly improve quality of life.
Now maybe the real question is not whether these myths existed, but whether we are willing to let them end with us. Because the moment we change how we see disability is the moment someone else’s world becomes more welcoming.
Because Somewhere around us, in our schools, families, markets, and places of worship, people living with disabilities who are not asking for pity or fear, but for understanding and inclusion.
Let’s treat people with disability better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do these myths persist if they’re not true?
These myths have been passed down through generations as cultural explanations for things people didn’t understand at the time. Without access to medical knowledge or education, spiritual and cultural interpretations filled that gap. Even today, these beliefs persist because they’re deeply embedded in family and community narratives.
Q: Is it disrespectful to question cultural or religious beliefs about disability?
No. Questioning harmful beliefs is an act of respect: respect for people with disabilities and for your culture’s ability to evolve. Many African communities are already moving away from these myths whilst maintaining their spiritual and cultural identity. Progress and tradition can and do coexist.
Q: What should I do if my family still believes these myths?
Start conversations gently by sharing facts and real stories. Listen to why they believe what they do. Change happens slowly, but education, exposure to people with disabilities, and showing how inclusion strengthens families can shift perspectives over time.
Q: Are these myths only found in African communities?
No. Similar myths about disability exist worldwide: in Asian, Latin American, and Western communities too. The specific cultural expressions differ, but the pattern of misunderstanding disability is universal. What matters is recognising and changing them.
Q: What’s the difference between pity and support?
Pity views disability as tragic and people with disabilities as helpless. Support recognises challenges and removes barriers so people can participate fully. People with disabilities don’t need pity. They need access, inclusion, and equal respect.
Q: Can faith and medical care work together?
Yes, absolutely. Many families combine prayer, spiritual practices, and medical treatment successfully. The key is ensuring medical needs are addressed whilst also honouring spiritual beliefs. One doesn’t have to replace the other.
Q: How can I be more inclusive of people with disabilities in my community?
Start by listening to people with disabilities about what they need. Make spaces physically accessible. Use inclusive language. Challenge stereotypes when you hear them. Include people with disabilities in decision-making. Small actions create real change.
Q: Where can I learn more about disability inclusion?
Look for local disability rights organisations, attend awareness events, and read stories from people with disabilities. Many organisations offer free educational resources online. Learning directly from the community is most valuable. Follow disability advocates and organisations like us, Davacrest Hub that centre authentic community voices. We recommend starting with our “My Ability Stories” video series that showcases real lived experiences.