In the morning, the heavens opened and it began to rain. Bella grabbed her umbrella to get to school, as she walked out of the hostel the first
Osu caste system a discriminating ancient tradition, isolation as the ends. This tradition which many believed it to be barbaric praying to be abolished while a lot still dwell on it can't be erased. Believing it to be a taboo and strong tradition which shouldn't be abolished but to stand and remain a strong tradition. This group of people live in every community, the Osus.
Africans believe so much on culture and tradition and ethics and Osu caste system is an ancient tradition that has come to stay and live which has taken part in the life of Igbo culture. This class of people called Osu are what we popularly know as Outcast and different ethnic groups and tribes have a name for it which they use to differentiate between the freeborn and outcast. The Osus are seen as less human in Igbo tribes. Isolating and making them look like people who are excommunicated most times. They don't have freedom of many things.
Freeborns making jest of them and treating them harshly making them feel less important and less humans in communities where they find themselves. They live to be recognized as slaves like people who are in captivity. Osu caste system now advertently becoming thorns on the flesh of the victims.
Now Obieke wasn't comfortable with this absurd tradition late 50s and 60s was when my great grandfather as one of the prominent people attended to the Osus as abominable people, if he had anything to give them he gave them through the raffia palm fence. Osus weren't allowed into his Obinze because he was Ozo just like a king," said my mother. Obieke was Osu he fought to abolish the tradition when he noticed that his only beautiful daughter Mmanu found favour in the sight of Obinze's son, Kina.
"Love could be blind but not in all cases or at all times," Aku Obineze advised his son, Kina. But Kina was not ready to fly away or live his life without Mmanu. Instead of considering the obstacle and the supposed impossibility of their being together continued to grow in love. Their love seemed strong but could it be strong enough to fight the opposition?
"Osu has come to stay as undying and inalienable and inadvertently taken over the whole parts of Igbo land. It can't be abolished completely even if Isi community had decided to abolish it," Mmanu regretted being born as Osu. Living as an outcast can be devastating and frustrating capable of causing the victim to commit suicide.
"Mmanu, my love for you suppresses this irritating tradition and we can fight this," said Kina. He knew that Mmanu was fed up and his words were not able to strengthen her. He was scared she would do act that could be drastic just to end it. Kina could see self hatred, resentment written all over her.
"Obieke I'm finished, my life is worthless, my enemies are at work!" Obieke's wife Oli lamented crying and rented her wrapper apart in despair. Obieke came holding his hand on his chest and gazing at Mmanu whose neck was tied to a tree with a rope. Looking at her mouth it was opened and her tongue pouring out, blood oozing through her nose. It was tragic.
How do we solve this problem of Osu (outcast)? Why should some be depressed and deprived, less privileged by discriminating them from others making them feel or look less humans? No, something should be done, really!
How to abolish Osu caste system in Igbo land
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