The Osu caste system is a practice in Igbo land that discourages social interaction and marriages with a group of persons regarded as slaves. The stigma is transferable to even children yet unborn.
Speaking at a workshop on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State, organised by the Initiative for the Eradication of Traditional and Cultural Stigmatisation in Our Society, a non-governmental organisation, Achebe said the practice had no place in a 21st century. He urged traditional rulers in Igbo land to stamp out the practice in their domains, while hailing the body (IFETACSIOS) for its initiative in that regard.
He said, “There is the need for people from all parts of Igbo land to come together and agree that this obnoxious cultural practice, which our fore fathers introduced, no longer have effect on us and our children. We are happy with the coming of IFETACSIOS group on this project and we are going to collaborate with them to ensure we end this bad culture that has held our people backward for many years now”
The President of IFETACSIOS, Oge Maduagwu, in her address, sought the help of the traditional rulers in the area in the abolition of the Osu caste system. Maduagwu said abolishing the system would restore the dignity of human beings, promote peaceful relationship and reduce communal conflicts.
She said the Osu caste system had wreaked havoc on the socio-cultural, economic and political lives of the Igbo. She said, “In Igbo land, it is very sad to note that a young man and young lady might be courting, but the moment either of the two discovers that the other is an osu, he or she will opt out of the relationship.”
According to her, the group has extended the advocacy on the abolition of the harmful practice to Imo and Enugu states. Maduagwu disclosed that they would visit Ebonyi and Abia before the end of 2018, saying, “The big dream of IFETACSIOS is the coming together of all the eastern states of Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Abia to sign an accord on the abolition of Osu caste system one day.”
From punch
*Hmmmm i pray this thing is abolished cos i have so many friends who want to marry in igboland but cannot because of the Osu system.....
If they refuse,cant the Osu marry themselves?
Hmmmmmm!!!! They better put it into action, no be only talk, talk, talk without action
ReplyDeleteAnd they won't allow their kids marry 'em. Who de fool who?
DeleteUntil I see Obi or all the whole Ezes allow their sons/ daughters marry OSU then I will believe them. They should stop ranting.
You're right all talk no action. I wish it can be abolished. I remember one of my friends in the University then that d dad was a canon in Anglican church . After having a meeting and deciding that it has been abolished he can back to his family, only young men and said he knows none of them will marry an Osu cos it's the tradition that created Osu system and not the church.And as a matter of fact the same system should abolish it.
DeleteI wish I can write like Chikito the professional so that I can narrate everything the way it was shared .
Celystar
Other Anglican pastors asked their bishop if he would allow his daughter to marry an Osu and his response was if the daughter likes the man. Meanwhile the daughter was like 12 yrs then.
DeleteAn Anglican pastor called off his wedding via announcement on radio and other mediums cos of family pressure as a result that the lady was an osu but this happened before that Bishop in my former story was ordained. Note this bishop was living in Uk before his ordination so he didn't witness it.
Celystar
All na wash. Osu still exist in Igboland. The free born don't marry Osu till today. Before a guy will propose to a lady his family will go and find out if the lady is an Osu or free born Likewise the lady. @Princess Tever.
ReplyDeleteSo what is wash about this. Did they say it doesn't exist ?? They are looking for ways to abolish it, you are here explaining what nobody asked u
DeleteThe same way slavery and killing of twins were stopped, so also will this Osu system come to an end someday. It has done more harm than good. Some part of Imo and Abia have successfully abolished it.
DeleteEka you shouldn't have bothered explaining to the foolish girl what the write up was about since she finds it difficult to read and understand. If its Alex matter now she's carry it on her empty head.
DeleteAll you know is to carry Cee C on your head like aju.
DeleteYou can't even read to understand
Lmao. Eka joy get mouth. Don't mind the silly girl.If it's Alex naw,her fellow girl she will be running mad on her post
DeleteWhy are you people coming after me like this? Wetin Happen? @Princess Tever
DeleteNICE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ReplyDeleteSocialmediaawardsng
To vote @stelladimokokorkus as BLOGGER OF THE YEAR
Text sma18 stella to 33352
Apart from text how do those in diaspora vote Stella pls? I must and want to vote but don't know how.
DeleteI pray this works,it cost me soooo much
ReplyDeleteThat rubbish should better be abolished. but Osu people are among the richest in Igboland
ReplyDeletePlease what's the meaning of the OSU system who are the slaves who are the freeborns .I need an explanation on that bcus in Yoruba land you can marry anybody.
ReplyDeleteCan type all about it now but promise to write about it and send to Stella to post about it. The origin of it and all that. But if anyone has the time he or she can as well share.
DeleteBefore writing or copying any articles about OSU caste, do your own thorough assignment. Don't come and post what you know nothing of. We recently published a write up about Osu caste and got to know some other things from my Anambra's elderly/older friends.
DeleteIf you were born in the city, atimes ask questions about your culture, even your family background to know who is your cousin in your Maternal/Paternal 'side'and the rest.
Talking is one thing and actually doing it is another. The only state that I know that have embraced Osu and abolished the system is Anambra state. I lived there all my life and I didnt hear anything of such, it was when an Imo guy came to marry me that his father was asking me if I am an Osu. I told him that I dont know what is Osu, he now said that I should go home and ask my parents. Can you imagined? I broke up with the guy after that visit. Claiming to be a christian and still practicing idolatry...
ReplyDeleteAnambra people do the OSU thing well well.. Even tho some town has abolished it
DeleteThere are many OSUs in Awka Etiti and they marry themselves and they're very rich.
Did you find out or you just sit there they yarn
DeleteSimple jamb question that was so harmless.... Ask your parents to know your statue o.
DeleteWhich means you are because na dem dey vex when person ask.
DeleteExactly, maybe you are one, cos it is a very harmless question.
DeleteI hope you have learnt from it and most importantly, asked your parents your 'status'.
Thank you sir.
ReplyDeleteJob well-done.
Even if they abolish it they will still be observing it low-key. Some things are hard to take away from tradition. Osu is one of them.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.
DeleteI sincerely hope that it is fully and practically be abolished.
Nice decision... I pray it work out for them
ReplyDeletechidinma Grace who told you Anambra people embraced OSU and abolished it,my sister it is a big lie.Anambra poeple are number one on that list because am from there and i know wetin dey.
ReplyDeleteI pray all other eastern states agree to abolish it.
ReplyDeleteDear Obi of Onitsha,show us example by letting any of ur children or grandchildren marry Osu ....They are jst deceiving u people.Thats how okpoko of Oba brought up this same idea&ran when the Chiefs told him to lead by example by marrying an osu or any of his close relations to marry Osu....My Dear,I will only believe them when they start marrying OSU.....HYPOCRITES
ReplyDeletemy der you do mind them hypocrite chiefs everywhere
DeleteThis will be a great move, even in the eyes of GOD we are one I see no reason why it should not be abnolish.
ReplyDeleteThis Osu thingy is heartbreaking. It has cause a lot of disappointments and broken relationship. It's practiced EVERYWHERE, Even some part of Rivers state. Etche people practice this rubbish.
ReplyDeleteThey're not only rich but beautiful. That is why u see some of them running to other tribes & even 'abroad ' to marry.. Most times they marry themselves. We have them among d so called celebs. It's a step in d right direction if abolished, but my people, d stigma remains there , there's nothing like they used to be. Don't even know how this came into existence.
ReplyDeleteits about time.i support
ReplyDeleteThe so called “freeborn” are cunny. They’ve welcomed everything beneficial about osu but the marriage thing. Before, an “osu” barber can’t cut a freeborn hair, can’t shake a free born etc. there’s a lot of them but they embraced everything thing else except marrying osu, If a wealthy osu donates money to build community schools and fix community road they accept o, but once he mentions that he want to marry their daughter they’ll remember osu. Stellz I wish he’s serious but he’s joking, he’s just saying it, ask him to make an osu as a member in council of his palace, or allow his son marry an osu you’ll see the quickness he’ll use to rebuke u. Please note that I’m against the osu caste system in all this, I have never supported it and never will. I was told about this system from a very young age and I hated it till now. We are all equal.
ReplyDeleteWrote about Osu system in a recent post made by Stella, It'll be good if they practice what they are preach. I know people from Arondiziougu in Imo state don't practice Osu, never met one in my life. Marriage these days just keeps getting harder, if its not genotype, Osu, Madness, Epilepsi, poverty, homosexual, domestic violence and the list is endless. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteThe Uneme people of Edo State only marry Uneme people.
ReplyDeleteThe Obi of Onitsha is right
Abolishing osu in Igbo land, I don't, think it's going to be possible. So many Catholic reverend fathers have tried it yet it didn't hold any water. Even to stop the playing of masquerades was not possible not to talk of osu. That was how one fine rich guy who was assisting me financially in school then left me because his mum told him that he was just wasting his money on me because my people will not allow him to marry me because him and his kindred are Ohu (slaves) not even an Osu oo! There's also another one they call nwadianni. Am from Anambra state, and in my L. G.A. if you are a freeborn you don't get married to these three categories of people i've mentioned above. It's a pity because we're all created by one God but that is how it is. Don't mind this Obi oo!
ReplyDeleteIf he means what he's saying let him allow one of his sons to bring in an even Oru (slave) wife, let's start from him. He will rather die, they are just deceiveing themselves. If you know, you know.
Well I see many people are pessimistic about this issue but one thing I know is that it will succeed in Onitsha. What the Obi sets out to achieve he achieves. There are somethings people thought won’t ever hold water but those things are happening or not today. Long live Agbogidi. Our igwe oyibo.
ReplyDeleteThanks @ kiks, a lot of comments here are silently supporting the continuation of the Osu thing.am from Anambra and am not an Osu, right from my young age, I heard story for this Osu thing yet no one has been able to point anybody out to me as an Osu.I met some at Enugu, from mba-ano, very good looking and educated family but never met one in my town and no one mentions this Osu stuff even when marriage is being discussed. I later heard of osu family in my town.they live in one part of the village in my town and joined pentecostal church, one of them wanted to get married and the village didn't lend themselves some support as we usually do, they decided to totally leave the village but the people went to begging them and ask them not to go.since then,both them and the village has been doing things together. Anybody that goes to church and still support this evil is not a Christian. You are we to call someone unclean.i bet you we are waiting for the white man to come and abolish it for us. Imagine the way some comments are silently taking pride in this evil.
DeleteRestoration time in igbo land
ReplyDelete