A Call to End the OSU Caste System: Breaking Free from Ancient Traditions in Igboland

 

This is a traditional practice in igbo land that dates back to ancient times in which a group of families believed to have been dedicated to dieties are forbidden from social and other cultural interactions with the rest of the community known as the 'dialas'

Oral history from some credible elders reveals that those group of people known as OSU didn't actually commit any crime to warrant such derogatory classification but being dedicated to serve diety arose from marginalization metted out to the poor and down trodden similar to what is still experienced in modern society, any time there is need to appease the God's by offering human slaves, the rich and affluents of the society of those days will nominate the poorest of the poor for such offering saving themselves and their families of the humiliation and degrading status associated with shrine slaves. 

Accordingly a shrine slaves gives birth to children who for no fault of theirs inherit the destitute condition of their parents and that lingers from generation to generation. Treatment served on this unfortunate group includes non inclusion in normal social activities like community meetings, marriages, conferment of titles, and even Cohabitation with other members of the community regarded as superior or free born. 

This practice is rooted in faith and fear for ancestral dieties and traditional religion. The OSU community are made to know themselves and restrict interaction within their own unfortunate community all their lives. Due to overwhelming acceptance of this culture, the people at the receiving end have no option than to accept their fate resulting to poor sense of self worth and psychological impairments among other stigma associated with this ill culture. 

With the advent of Christianity this culture came under attack from the church and Christian community who viewed the practice as inhuman and against God. Serious campaigns were launched to abolish the rotten tradition, as expected there were resistances from local lords who wanted the status quo to be maintained, but under superior arguments presented against the practice by the church many actors started succumbing to pressure.

 However this submission to new doctrines of the church was more superficial than real as many still fear the wrath of the dreaded gods of the land and adopted an attitude of whoever wants let him be the first to intermingle. 

This attitude resulted in people secretly guarding their children and loved ones against deep relationships and interaction with the accursed group, especially in the area of marital association. So in practice the tradition still continues.

 Furthermore it became a political tool to reduce competition among those seeking leadership positions in the community, any perceived rival who is from the marginalized group usually faces negative backlashes from competitors who will gladly flash the argument that an OSU cannot be vested with honor and position belonging to free born. 

As the battle rages to rid the igbo community of this unfortunate tradition a lot is expected and required of religious leaders, revered persons and well meaning individuals to stop playing lip service to this menace but see it as a service to both God and humanity, strict sanctions should be applied to any body found to be supporting and propagating the anti human tradition while conscious efforts must be made to avail protection to those who have taken a bold step to tackle the problem headlong.

 Traditional authorities should be held accountable if the ugly culture is allowed to prevail in the area under jurisdiction. All concerned citizens, God fearing and law abiding citizens should be encouraged to join this war to eliminate ill treatments and man's inhumanity against fellow humans in the interest of building a progressive and vibrant society where everyone is given fair deal and treatment.