ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Ley Your Dreams Come Alive – With FCMB Loans
Home oriental news

Death sentence for Osu caste

25th July 2018
in oriental news
0
Death sentence for Osu caste
46
SHARES
1.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The practice has persisted in spite of efforts by the then government of the Eastern Region, which in 1956 enacted a law abolishing the Osu caste system.

George Onyejiuwa, Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Osu caste system, an ancient practice across Igbo land which strongly bars any social interaction and marriage between the diala (free born) and osu (outcast) whose progenitors were believed to have been enslaved or dedicated to the deities of a community or village, has remained a vexatious traditional issue amongst Igbo.

The practice has persisted in spite of spirited efforts by the then government of the defunct Eastern Region, which in 1956, enacted a law abolishing the Osu caste system.

Are you a Man 40 yrs and above? Do not miss the Vital Information, it goes off in 2 days! CLICH HERE to READ .

The osu/diala dichotomy is most pronounced in the area of marriage. The belief is that any ‘free born’ that marries an osu defiles the family. This usually leads to investigations by elders before any marriage is contracted between two families, especially when from different communities.

One Igbo community where the caste system flourished was Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. But all that ended on July 14, as the traditional institution and indigenes of the community, in a grand ceremony, unanimously abolished the obnoxious system which they said had caused disaffection and ill-feelings amongst them.

The traditional ruler, Eze Ethelbert Ekwelibe who made the pronouncement during the annual “Nta” (hunting) cultural festival held at the community primary school said as the chief custodian of the culture and tradition of his people, he decided to abolish the caste system because it was inhuman, ungodly and satanic.

Breaking!!! Earn up to N2 - N3 million monthly GUARANTEED (all paid in US Dollars). No training or refereal required. Do business with top USA companies like Amazon, Tesla, Facebook, IBM, Netflix, Zoom, etc. Learn more .

“I know that the issue of the Osu caste system has been with us since time immemorial, which I think should not have been in the first instance as it has created two classes of people within the Igbo society where some are considered as free born (nwadiala) and others as osu (outcast) who should not intermingle socially and even in marriage.

“Therefore, the decision to do away with the caste system was done after due consultations with clan heads, traditional institutions and the indigenes of the community who overwhelmingly supported the abolition of this discriminatory practice in our community.

Premature Ejaculation & "Small Joystick" Resolved in 7Days... Click Here For Details .

“So, today customary laws of Irete community have abolished Osu caste practices and we have chosen to do it during the ‘Nta’ ancient cultural festival of the people,” he declared.

The occasion was preceded by a liberation Mass presided over by the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna represented by Rev. Father Patrick Igbeole, at the St. Emanuel Catholic Church, Irete.

The priest expressed regret that such dehumanising treatment of fellow indigenes was still being practised in the state and urged the people to embrace the teachings of Christ and eschew all manner of injustice in their lives.

“If you know you are holding anybody down in the name of whatever belief that is not godly, please, release such person and let them be free,” he advised.

The cleric who linked the archaic practice to ignorance on the part of their forefathers, after his liberation urged both osu and diala to henceforth see themselves as one.

100% Natural Herbs to Finally End Premature Ejaculation, Weak Erection and Small Manhood. >>>Click Here for Details<<< .

“Don’t be afraid of the outcome of marrying an osu, only be afraid of Christ, when you come to the altar. I administer the sacrament of holy communion with the same cup for everybody, if that is the case, then all of you are now osu after eating from the same cup,” he counselled.

Highlight of the occasion was a communal feast at Irete Primary School premises as well as conferment of chieftaincy title on both former outcast and freeborn from the community.

A victim of the caste system, Isaac Ugorji expressed happiness that at last he has been accepted by his people.

“You can’t imagine the pains I had gone through; when I wanted to get married, girls refused to marry me. They said I was an osu. Back in school those days, my friends could not associate with me because of the osu thing, but thank God today, Irete has redressed that by saying we are all one”, Ugorji stated with elation.

To a prominent indigene, Chris Anukam, the caste system was an infringement on the fundamental rights of the people to freedom of association and even the pursuit of personal happiness.

A cabinet chief of the community, Chief Cyprian Amako, the abolishment marked a new beginning in the community.

“Irete community as a people realised that there is need to take action. Human beings should not be subjected to slavery based on societal class. We should fight for the eradication of evil practices and restore joy and dignity to the lives of those trapped by traditions.

“This is the greatest legacy ever handed to us; we cannot continue to tolerate this; we thank our monarch for his wisdom”, Amako said.

Yet, the brain behind the historic event, Eze Ekwelibe while narrating how he conceived the idea disclosed that it all began in 2009, four years before he was enthroned as a monarch.

According to him, it began when he publicly stopped an osu from the community from breaking kolanut and pouring libation in the midst of freeborn at a certain gathering.

“The man felt pain and said to me, these are supposed to be the Christians. His few words were direct and understandable; I was never myself after then. I prayed to God to give me the opportunity to stop this practice, and when I was chosen by my people in 2013 to be their monarch, I wrote to the 18 villages in the community about my proposal and nobody was against it, so I quickly initiated it and today you are witnessing the history. To God be the glory,” he said.

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Uche Onyeaguocha, who witnessed the momentous occasion expressed elation, vowing that abolishment of the Osu caste system will be the first law he would push to the State House of Assembly if by God’s grace he emerged governor next year.

Tags: dialaigboosu caste systemsocietal classtraditiontraditional institutions
David

David

Sun News Online team

Related Posts

Abandoned donation
Features

Abandoned donation

25th May 2022
Lifeline for 50 poor Ebonyi pupils
Features

Lifeline for 50 poor Ebonyi pupils

25th May 2022
Callous vandals
Features

Callous vandals

18th May 2022
Next Post
CHOOSING NEXT PRESIDENT

2019: Nigerians must rise above sentiments in choosing president – Okupe

DIRECT PRIMARY

APC primary: Observer group recommends direct system for elections

CNPP

CNPP condemns security siege on Saraki, Ekweremadu residences

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlights

APGA holds peaceful HOA primaries in Ebonyi

Katsina APC governorship primaries: Delegates to vote as consensus option fails

2023: ADC urges INEC to adopt candidate selection process

PDP holds primaries for State assembly, NASS in Imo

Umo Eno emerges PDP gubernatorial candidate for A’Ibom

Road to 2023: Drama as serving Senator loses return bid

Trending

Insecurity: Shutting down masts, schools will compound situation — Northern elders
National

Northern elders condemn killings in South East

25th May 2022
0

From Okwe Obi, Abuja Pan-Arewa socio-political group, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has condemned the Killings in...

Peter Mba wins Enugu State PDP guber ticket

Peter Mba wins Enugu State PDP guber ticket

25th May 2022
AAU marks 40 years, inducts Imansuangbon, 21 others into Hall of Fame

Strike: JAC of non-teaching staff unions of AAU Ekpoma backs ASUU

25th May 2022
apga

APGA holds peaceful HOA primaries in Ebonyi

25th May 2022
apc

Katsina APC governorship primaries: Delegates to vote as consensus option fails

25th May 2022

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • Northern elders condemn killings in South East
  • Peter Mba wins Enugu State PDP guber ticket
  • Strike: JAC of non-teaching staff unions of AAU Ekpoma backs ASUU
  • APGA holds peaceful HOA primaries in Ebonyi
  • Katsina APC governorship primaries: Delegates to vote as consensus option fails
  • 2023: ADC urges INEC to adopt candidate selection process
  • PDP holds primaries for State assembly, NASS in Imo
  • Umo Eno emerges PDP gubernatorial candidate for A’Ibom
  • Road to 2023: Drama as serving Senator loses return bid
  • May 26 World Drug Day: Marwa deserves global awards – Group
  • 2023: Group urges Igbo presidential aspirants to unite
  • Disgruntled staff frustrating us, psychiatric hospital laments
  • Nigeria fast becoming a lawless country — CAN
  • Ohanaeze FCT, 4 youth, women groups endorse APC female aspirant, Ohanenye
  • Party primaries: Igbo monarchs, Archbishops, Bishops urge delegates to elect South East aspirants
  • ASUU strike: Ekiti university lecturers insist on full compliance
  • Road crashes: 9 students killed between January-March in FCT — FRSC
  • Nigeria, Ethiopia to hold joint commission on trade, economy, political developments
  • Accord Party expels chieftain over alleged anti-party activities
  • Plateau Reps member, Gagdi presents N100 million WAEC, NECO fee to indigent students

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Posting....