The Osu Caste System in Igbo Land
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ABSTRACT
This research work is aimed at revealing the osu caste system and it’s practices in Igboland. The osu system could not be easily removed in Igbo land because of the attitudes of the Igbos toward their traditional religion, norms and traditions.
Despite the fact that the church, government, schools and mass media are making drastic efforts in order to eradicate the practice of osu caste system in Igbo culture, it still persists.
It was on this basis that the researcher was prompted to write on osu caste system with regards to it’s socio-political consequences in Isiekenesi and on the society at large, thereby exposing it’s dangers.
This work seeks to substitute for historical complacency- a stimulus to fresh action and goes to show according to Abraham Lincoln that ‘9 nations cannot be half- free and half slave’ which definitely would create an unprecedented division.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Approval page ii
Certification page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vi i
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to The study 1
Statement of Problem 2
Purpose of Study 4
Significance of the Study 4
Definition of Terms 5
Scope of the Study 7
Methodology and Review 7
Literature Review 11
End notes 14
CHAPTER TWO: HISTORY OF ISIEKENESI
Socio- Political Organization 16
Economic Organization 18
End Notes 20
CHAPTER THREE: OSU SYSTEM IN ISIEKENESI
Initiation and Rites 24
Types and ways of becoming Osu 25
Osu Place in Igbo Traditional Setting 27
End Note 30
CHAPTER FOUR: IMPACT OF OSU CAST SYSTEM IN ISIEKENESI
The Socio-Economic Consequence of Osu Caste System. 31
Osu Caste And The Effects In Isiekenesi Town 33
Human Rights and the Caste System 34
The Changing Status of Osu 42
Christian Attitude Towards Osu 45
The Government And The Osu System 48
The Igbo Elites And The Osu System 50
End Note 52
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION
Summary Of Findings 53
Conclusion 54
Recommendations 54
Bibliography 56
Part II 60
Oral Interviews 60
INTRODUCTION
It is so appalling that our formal egalitarian society has been thwarted of its initial communal bond as a result of social stratification which eventually led to class inequality. This social stratification has been greeted with violations of human rights, man inhumanity to man, oppression of the less powerful etc.
Worthy of note are the victims of Afro-Americans, American Indians in the United States, albinos in Africa, apartheid in South Africa, the caste in India. In Nigeria especially in Isiekenesi town of Imo State, this ugly incidence is reflected in the osu caste system.
Some particular set of humans were openly declared “persona-non-grata” They were despised, marginalized, discriminated against, ostracized and condemned because they are deemed to be of questionable ancestry. These set of people are labelled osu or caste.
Despite the progress in education, industrialization and material wealth, the osu caste system remains a social ill in Igboland. People are classified into different group such as {slave}’Ohu” outcaste ‘osu’ freeborn Nwafo or Nwadiala etc.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amojodoji Chika; Osu caste, Violence Erupts: African concord july 18, 1986 p19.
Achebe. C.; Things Fall Apart, (Heinemann Publish, London 1956),p. 142.
Arinze F A. Sacrifice in igbo religion University Publishing Press, Ibadan 1970 p. 10
Bas den G. (1921) Among The Ibos of Nigeria London, (frank cass and company Ltd), pg12
- C.Ezeanya retired teacher age, 82yrs interview held in his house at Dimagu Isiekenesi on 30th Dec 2016.
Durueke C. 1985; Persistence of Osu caste system in Igboland, Sunday times January 13th pg-14.
Friedle, j. Cultural Anthropology (Harper Rolo publishers)
Green M. M. Igbo village Affairs (London frank cass and co Ltd 1974), p-14
Isichei . E 1976, A history of Igbo people.( London Macmillan press Ltd), pg- 16
Iwe, N.S S, Christianity and culture in Africa, (Onitsha, University press), p21
Mathew O. orji esg” The history and the culture of the Igbo people. P-11
Mbiti J.S Introduction to African religion
Okeke;- Enugu: Apartheid: A Nigerian version ; African concord:- june 30, 1989 p4
Okeke, I. R, the concept of osu caste in Igboland (Enugu Access publishers-Nig. Ltd 1980)
CSN Team.
