– The Osu Caste System in Igbo Land –

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ABSTRACT

This research work is aimed at revealing the 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 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 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 , 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’ 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

  1. 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)

StudentsandScholarship Team.

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