Stop Osu caste system

Despite local and international outcries, Osu caste system is still practiced in most communities of Igboland. (Photo shows Emeka Ogbonna,President, People's Participation Front (PPF)

Osu caste takes the form of slavery and slave trade whereby a person(s) is/are bought as a slave(s) and dedicated to a god. The people are, subsequently, viewed as the representatives of the god. This practice is, of course, humiliating and negated both legal and biblical perspectives on individual freedom.

Where it is practiced, an Osu is not allowed by the traditional law to marry a free-born. He or she is neither permitted by the traditional law to keep other forms of relationships or affiliations with those regarded as free-born. The caste had undergone several adjustments during the era of colonialism, had been affected by the decree enforced by the white man to abolish slave trade. Also, some decades ago, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, as premier of Eastern Region of Nigeria, passed a law abolishing the caste system in Igboland. Yet, the practice still thrives.

The treatment meted out to the Osu flouts the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 1 of the declaration states: “All human beings are born equal in dignity and right. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”.
Article 4 of the same declaration states: “No one shall be held in slavery and slavery shall be against the land”

The practice of Osu cast system is clearly painted in Chinua Achebe’s “No longer at ease” where Obi Clara was vehemently opposed by his people because Clara was an Osu. The annoying thing is that the discrimination persists despite the high presence of Christianity in southeast-Nigeria, and despite the biblical injunction that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, and neither freeborn nor slave.

It is against this backdrop that a pro-human rights organization, Popular Participation Front (PPF), has embarked on a campaign to abolish this inhuman practice.

The group, based in the southeast-Nigeria, has, in its campaign, visited many communities and local government areas in Imo State which includes Ihitte Oboma, Mbano, Mbaise, just to mention but a few.

According to Comrade Emeka Ogbonna, President of the organization, the campaign is to sensitize the public that in the 21st century such negative practices should not be found among civilized populace of Nigeria.

“Such practice in the 21st century is uncalled for, it is inhuman, it is barbaric and throws Nigeria back to the Stone Age. It should not be found in Nigeria in this era. Besides, Nigeria is a signatory to several legal instruments such as African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights among others which enforce the observance of human rights”, Comrade Ogbonna enthused.

The president, further, said the group is adopting the approach of advocacy to achieve this aim. According to him, the group is visiting traditional heads to hold dialogues with them. Subsequently, the traditional rulers convene a gathering of opinion molders in the community where this message would be preached to them. The opinion molders later relay this gospel to the citizens.

So far, according to Comrade Ogbonna, the campaign is recording success as all the traditional rulers visited are receiving the message with open hands.

“The campaign seems to be divinely designed. In all the places we have visited, the people receive it with open minds. I specially thank His Royal Highness, Eze Ogwuegbu from Ihitte Oboma, who is like an inspiration to this campaign and many other traditional rulers who have contributed to the success of this program. Negotiations are in top gear to partner with the Imo State Government. The Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, is keen on the program. And he pursues anything he is convinced in with vigour,” Ogbonna posits.

Some phases of the campaign are nearing completion. Such phases are that of Ihitte Oboma and its neighbors. The campaign at the phases would be sealed with a traditional rite, which is performed at the open, preferably the village square. The rite will be performed in the presence of the “Osu Caste” and the freeborn. Comrade Ogbonna narrated that the essence of the rite is too severe any barrier that might have been construed to exist between the “Osu” and the freeborn.

The Osu caste system in Igbo land predates the colonial period. In this practice, sets of people are regarded as inferiors in the society due to their attachments to the community, village deity or personal deities.

According to Elder C. G. Alozie, Administrator of Church of God (Seventh day), Abia state, we find those negative practices among christians because christians read the bible but do not internalize the scriptures.

“There is a problem somewhere, most christians, even church leaders practice christianity superficially and not in truth and spirit”, stated Elder Alozie.
The practice does not only have social implications but economic. According to Comrade Emeka Ogbonna, it inhibits the harness and harmonization of resources between the freeborn and Osu due to the barrier.

He said, “The greatest achievement is that both harness and harmonize their resources for the development of the society”.

Reported by Okechukwu Keshi Ukaegbu/Aba