Hello everyone, how are you doing on this beautiful day? Today is yet another great day to be alive. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
And so, today I will be talking about the third topic for the week which is Traditional Belief.
As an Igbo guy, I have come across a number of beliefs and traditions among my people, many of which are still being practiced to this very day even though it is not as rampant as they used to be. There are the good and enjoyable ones like the masquerade festivals, New Yam festivals, and the likes. On the flip side, there are the horrible ones like female circumcision, the Osu Caste system, etc.
Today, my post will be on the Osu Caste system.
The Osu Caste System is a traditional practice, dating back to the days of our forefathers. It is one that discourages social interactions and relationships with a particular group of people that are called the Osu.
In the olden days, when men were ruled by gods and rules were given by deities to be followed. Disobedience came at a very huge price. Offenders were cast away from the community and made to live apart from the rest of the people because of the fear that they were cursed and will bring the curse upon everyone else.
There is another view, one in which those who disobey the orders of the King or the decision of the community are banished from the community.
There are different versions of how the system started, but the major fact is that it was never just the culprits that suffered from it. Once someone became an Osu, the rest of the family became an Osu as well. The entire family would be banished from the community and their children and grandchildren will inherit the status from them.
It was so bad that the people were usually made to live in shrines and markets and beg for food. People refused to come into contact with them, they had no means of making a living so life was just horrible. For survival, many of them had to run to faraway lands where no one knew them so they could start over.
And today, decades later, even when the practice had been illegal as of March 20th, 1956, it is truly sad to see that these practice is still being practiced. Albeit quietly.
In my previous post, I made on a traditional marriage ceremony, I mentioned that the families would make investigations. This is another of the reasons they make their investigations. They will not say it out, but no one wants to marry an Osu.
This system has destroyed beautiful relationships that would have grown to become beautiful homes, it does not matter if the couple loves each other and does not care that the partner is an outcast, the parents will vehemently refuse. Things like this have led to people getting disinherited, disowned, and even killed.
Although more and more laws are being made to abolish it totally, we need to educate and enlighten everyone on the evils of the caste system. It does not promote unity in the least, instead, it breeds discord and hate.
For now, it is no longer practiced in schools and churches, and places of work. It is illegal to practice it in public places and it is kind of nonexistent there. But the place it is still predominant is when it comes to marriages. I hope that there is something that can be done, so that anyone can get married to whomever he pleases as long as the love is there.
After all, we are all children of God and there should be no ostracization because there are seriously other things that we can focus our energy on.
So, dear friends, let us stop this ungodly practice immediately and embrace everyone with love. It is what God would want.
P.S: This post is made based on what I learned about the Osu Caste system while in school, so if I made an error of any kind it is totally mine and I stand corrected.
Thank you for reading, till we meet in my next post.
Wow... I use to watch this on T.V only
So this could still be happening till now...
This is rediculous, we pray things gets better
But seriously if I should be in that kind of place and I can't marry my lover because of one Osu, I will carry her fiammmm
We will vacate to any other place ooo I can't come and kill myself🥴🥴🙄
Yeah... but it might not be as easy as it sounds. What if she is not willing to run away with you?
Such is life, and these are the kind of things some people still have to face.
Thank you for reading.
It's okay she can stay if she's not willing to go with me...
It's simple now, her people or my people don't want her with me and she is keying into that.. that shows she wouldn't love me in any situation so I move to Greener pasture
I just found out about traditions like this because I believe that every tradition has a very long past, so that we who live in the present can only follow what our ancestors did. thanks for sharing
I feel it is about time we let go of this tradition, it does nothing to help us grow as a people. So it is of no use to us.
Thank you for reading.
You did well by explaining this half cast issue practiced in IGBO land.
My elder brother was in a relationship with his fiancee for 3years, and just when they were about getting married, my mom went for investigation and discovered that the lady is "Osu" and that was the end! Relationship they have built for a long time, their future has been planned together and all of a sudden, everything dashed out because of this traditional belief.
The lady couldn't let go, he threatened to deal with my brother if he refuses to marry her. It was a family war , that's another story shaa.
I just wish this belief will be abolished as we have embraced christianity.
Painful indeed.
All the time, effort, and emotions that have been invested into the relationship, all gone just like that.
We can only hope that something is truly done in due time.
Thank you for reading.
I still don't understand why the Osu people are being labelled as bad or dangerous to be in contact with. This outrageous claims might have started out of one stupid reason and due to the way humans are, they carried it on their head.
.it should certainly be stopping in any way possible, people shouldn't be made to suffer the stigma of being born to the wrong beliefs, I cannot understand how humans think..
They're a lot of traditional beliefs that don't allow an Igbo man to marry a yoruba girl and so on, it's all called for and thinking that civilization would have already changed all this..
Thanks for this post, I learnt something..❤️❤️✅
We want growth, and yet we still do not want to let go of these negative attributes. Hopefully, with time, everyone will come to their senses and see why they have to accept everyone for who they are. Regardless of what their ancestors did or didn't do.
Thank you for reading.
That's true, we're deceiving ourselves if we think we can grow with such diabolical practices.
Hopefully,
You're welcome bro ❤️
Been a cast away is something else. You suffer isolation, hunger, and a lot more.
Thanks for sharing.
Hopefully, going forward, no one else would have to suffer such ever again.
Thank you for reading.
I totally agree with your opinion, let's put the love forward❤
That is the dream, I sure hope it comes true.
Thank you for reading.
Absolutely right my dear that we are all children of God and first time I hear Osu Caste system. Thank for this details
Thank you for reading, I am glad you enjoyed the write up.
This has been a tradition that has been practice for a very long time, which has caused a lot pain and sorrow in the hearts of men. The Osu caste are deprived of their rights as humans and they live in isolation.
I believe we all are created by God, irrespective of our colour or race; like you rightly said, let's embrace love. Thank you for this beautiful write up, Kema.
Everyone has a right to live and belong to the rest of society. Segregation and deprivation should not be allowed in the least.
Thank you for reading, I am glad you enjoyed it.
I am so surprised to hear that people still practise this till date. In this jet age? That's ridiculous
You might not notice. You won't see it in places of work, worship or school. Until two people want to get married, that is when it rears its ugly head.
Thank you for reading.
That's bad.
It os very sad that most tribe still engage in such beliefs
Very sad indeed, we need absolute change.
Thank you for reading.
This is messed up. How can this be happening in a modern society still?
Some people still hold tightly onto tradition. It is what it is, we can only hope that it changes soon.
I am agree with you 🤗
Every one should love each other ❣️
Well writing bro ❣️
Thank you...
When we love each other, life will be so much easier and happier for every one of us.
I am glad you like the post.
Wow, this should be really abolished.
Yes it should.
Thank you for reading.
Some beliefs are just threat to human nature
Indeed.
Thank you for reading.
Yeah..I have heard of this history from my Dad when he came back from a work at an Igbo area. It is reallt a bad one for someone who does not even know who committed an act to also suffer from it, atleast. @bruno-kema
It is just too bad.
Thank you for reading.