Culture is a way of life of a people, while tradition is people's 'cultural' heritage. The Osu Cast system is and/or was a tradition in the Igbo community that discriminate against some members of Igbo community and has come under heavy criticism by many Igbo’s considering the Biblical belief that everyone is created equal in the eyes of God Almighty.
The “Ohu” (Slaves) and Osu Cast system are always mistaken to be the same by the current generation, but there a difference in the origin and nature the Ohu and Osu Cast system. The Ohus’ of the then traditional Igbo society were taken slaves as spoils of tribal wars, taken debts payment, or were captured to bury Kings and Chiefs; and their lineages automatically also becomes slaves. The Ohu system became less mentioned and prominent because there was provision for people to buy back their freedom and to cease to be slaves by paying the debts that made them Ohus’. Most Ohus’ took this option and were freed from being ohu (slaves) in Igbo land, though some of Ohu lineages are still stigmatised by some out of ignorance and superstitions in banter discussions till today.
However, the Osu Cast System originated from individuals quest for spiritual status and respect in those traditional day. The then Osu’s were ordinary people who ran to deities. Many voluntarily offered themselves as sacrifice to the deities for protection, some or their family offered them to repay the gods for good deed to them .The Osus’ were initially respected because they assisted the dibia’s (native doctors) in the shrines with day-to-day spiritual activities that pure breeds cannot. They were seen as properties of the deities and were more avoided than respected, and people disassociated from them and anyone that marries them becomes an Osu too. This was reinforced by the notion that no one can talk to the deities or marry someone meant for deities. They were feared and seen to be no longer ordinary humans and cannot be sacrificed to any deity.
The fact remains that it was humans (Igbo forefathers) that introduced this tradition and societal construct and it will only take courageous humans of the current genration to abolish it as needed. In 2017, The Enugu state government illegalised the Osu Cast Sytem. In 2018, the Eze Nri of Nri ancient kingdom abolished the Osu Cast system in Igbo land and beyond. In the same year, 24 Traditional rulers in Imo State to sign and abolished the discriminatory Osu Cast system. There were similar events in other parts of Igbo communities, yet, there is still visible discrimination when it comes to marrying a bride or groom traced to “Osu lineage”. Also, there are no serious attempts to adopt the abolishment of the system in some Igbo communities.
The question that remained unanswered is why Ndigbo are still deep rooted in not implementing the abolishment of the Osu Cast sytem, even the Eze’s and political class that pronounced them. The answer lies in another Igbo marriage practice called “Iju Ese” (verifying the ancestral lineage of both the would be bride and groom for history of slavery, osu cast, hereditary sicknesses and misfortunes, and hereditary negative behaviours or traits like promiscuity, stealing, murder etc). As much as one wants to be optimistic about the complete end of this tradition, it would appear that as long as Iju Ese remains part of the marriage process in Igboland, the full implementation of the abolishment of the Osu Cast system will be prolonged and people will continue to be defined by the mistakes of their ancestors in Igboland.
What is the way forward? Send your comments.
