Jude Owuamanam
Osu caste system is an ancient practice in Igboland, which discourages social interaction and marriage with a group of persons called Osu and the freeborn called Nwadiala. The Osu, people said to be dedicated to deities, are considered as inferior beings to freeborn.
The controversial Osu caste system in Igbo land has continued to lose ground in the concerted effort to abolish it from the tribe. Interestingly, Nri, the progenitors of the Igbo race had taken the lead in the effort to eliminate this age-long practice that has cast the race in bad light in an era freedom is considered the right of every being. The Osu caste system in this day and age is considered primitive.
The fight to abolish the obnoxious practice dates back to the fifties when the late Dr. NnamdiAzikiwe, at the defunct Eastern Region in 1956 described the system as “devilish and uncharitable to brand any human being with a label of inferiority due to the accidents of history”. The late Sam OnunakaMbakwe, former governor of the old Imo State, also during his era banned the Osu caste system. In spite of these efforts, people continued to pay lip service to the issue.
However, the renewed fight over the scourge appear to have gathered momentum and steam as Igbo communities now take turns to abolish the practice. The Obi of Onitsha, IgweNnaemeka Achebe, has also risen in condemnation calling for the abolition of the culture while Oguta people boldly took steps to exterminate it in their community recently.
And so December 27, 2019, Abba clan in Nwangele local government area of Imo State took turn to make an anathema for anybody to refer to a fellow indigene as an outcaste (Osu/Ohu or Ume).
It is also an offence to segregate against anybody on account of being an outcast. This was the resolution of the entire community when they gathered to do away with the age old caste system which had dogged the Igbo race for centuries.
The journey to the ceremony, which started on November 2, with a sensitisation programme to all the four autonomous communities of Umuokwara, Umudurunna, Ekitiafor and Ogwuaga, and the daughters of Abba (Umuada), commenced December 3, with the rites of abrogation performed by the traditional title holders (Ndi Nze na Ozo and Oji Ofo). The event was witnessed by a delegation from Nri Ancient Kingdom, said to be sphere of religious and political influence in Igbo land.
A statement signed by the Chairman of traditional title holders, (Ndi Nze na Ozo), Dr. CKC Anyanjo and the Public Relations Officer, Dr. Okechukwu Akogu, described the rites as an uphill task, but expressed satisfaction that they were able to pull the process through despite all the challenges littered along the way.
The statement said, “The culmination of this whole process into the epoch and historic abolition proclamation by Onye Ishi Nze Abba Amano (Nze ( Dr) CKC Anyanjo), at 4:35pm of 3/12/2019, after a sixteen cannon gun shorts and its reinforcement by Ndiojiofo and another 21 cannon shorts in the four autonomous communities between 5pm to 6:15pm in ala Abba was symbolic – bringing to finality the end of Osu, Ume and Ohu caste system in Abba clan.
“While we rejoice with our people over this abolition and open heaven of blessings upon ala Abba and umu Abba, we advise our people to adhere strictly to the terms of the abolition,” the statement added.
Speaking on the epic event, the traditional Ruler of Ekitiafor, Ekiti II, Eze Ononenyi Uzoma, said that it was the agreement of all the people of Abba that the system must come to an end. He described it as a encouragement to other communities in Igbo land that still practices the system to end it because it has no place in modern times.
Queen Mother of Ekitiafor, Her Royal Majesty, Ugoeze Uzoka, who spearheaded the whole process, described the practice as obnoxious and vexatious, stressing that it is incongruous for any person to see another as an outcast, when there is no outward sign or insignia on the face designating them as outcast and others as freeborn.
She said, “For the people of Abba, history beckons. I am convinced that with this whole process, the system will be finally laid to rest in Abba. I congratulate all the Nze na Ozos, all the title holders, Abba indigenes both at home and in the diaspora, for pushing this process through and I know that by the end of the day, the names of all those who played one role or the other in the abrogation of this inhuman and infamous system will be etched in gold.”
The star of the traditional renunciation ceremony was a little girl, Miss Obianuju Nnanna, who represented all the daughters of Abba (Umuada) and the virgins of the land and performed their role in the abrogation process. The grand ceremony, which culminated in the celebration of Abba Day, was held under the auspices of Abba AmaAno Community Development Union (AACDU) led by Chief Paul Ozigbo and coordinated by Barrister Stan ChikeOfoma.
The Christian renunciation ceremony was rounded off with a interdenominational church service presided by the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Metropolitan Province, Archbishop JVC Obinna.
Speaking at the ceremony, Archbishop Obinna said that for the past 65 years he had championed the abolition of the Osu caste system. He expressed delight that Abba people have finally decided to take a major leap in the abrogation of the caste system.
He expressed optimism that with the example laid by Abba community, other communities in Imo, still deep in the practice of the obnoxious Osu system, would understand that it is out of touch with humanity. He said: “today in the four communities of Abba we are rejecting bad customs and behaviours. We are rejecting bad talks, insults intimidation, unnecessary envy, looking down on fellow citizens and the worship of idols and all things associated with the Osu/Ohu and Ume caste system in Abba clan. This is the resolve and the promise we make today in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Chairman of Abba Autonomous Communities Development Union (AACDU), Nnanyereuo Paul Ozigbo, said that it was the collective will and resolve of the four communities that make up Abba clan to abolish and abrogate the system from their land. He thanked all the indigenes of Abba at home and in the Diaspora, traditional title holders, (NdiNzenaOzo and Ndi Oji Ofo) for making the ceremony successful.
Traditional Ruler of Ekitiafor, Ekiti II, Eze Boniface Ononenyi Uzoma, apologised to all those who have suffered from segregation or considered as second class citizens. He warned that by the final renunciation ceremony, anybody or group that segregates against the other person or group of persons will be sanctioned.
The high point of the ceremony was the administration of mixture of salt and water on the chiefs, elders and traditional rulers from the four communities as the final rites of renunciation and act of reunion by the Archbishop.
