A Critical Assessment Of The Osu Caste System In Igbo Land, Nigerias

A Critical Assessment Of The Osu Caste System In Igbo Land, Nigerias

Chapter One

Preface

Background of the study

Every period and people throughout mortal history have had their own troubles, whether natural( earthquakes, cataracts,etc.) or man- made. Social position, demarcation, prejudice, and injustice live in every society, though they may differ from one to the coming. It may manifest itself in a variety of ways, including profitable, social, religious, and indeed political. individualities, ethnical groups, and countries are all affected. While one group claims superiority over another, some nations claim superiority over another, and it’s appertained to by colorful names in colorful societies and societies. The estate system is the alternate system of social position in which rank is defined by birth, marriage is limited to members of one’s own estate, and it’s a continuance commitment( Henslin, 2005, Ember etal., 2005). The estate system — the Osu estate system – exists among the Igbo in Nigeria’s south- east zone( Amalu, 2018,). It’s said to be as old as Igbo land itself, or as” old as the payoff of binary babies, the payoff of innocent children for developing first the upper incisor( teeth), the immolation of mortal offerings, the problematic ideas of reincarnation, and others which were rehearsed in the ancient world”( Onwubuariri, 2016). Endogamy is particularly associated with the estate system in Igbo land. According to Beattie( 1980). estate means not only that there are several’ types’ of individualities, but also that these kinds, which are generally linked by their traditional employment or general origin, are placed in a hierarchical order( Beattie, 1980). Any estate orsub-caste has a specific place on the graduation, with some below it and others above it. In similar well- organized societies, it’s extensively believed that each estate orsub-caste should cleave to itself and avoid mingling with other gentries, particularly the lower bones . The law of endogamy, which is frequently( in India) connected with forcefully institutionalized generalizations of chastity and contamination, aids in maintaining estate separation by expressing the high social value placed on similar exclusivity. The osu( castaway) is also a term used to describe people whose parents or themselves were formerly offered as offerings to particular sanctuaries and were later considered the property of the gods or ancestor divinities represented in the sanctuaries. The osu becomes” nearly dangerous” as a result of their conventional status, since physical contact with them entails fleshly touch with the powers of the divinities who hold them – a threat no man is willing to face. As a result, they’re subordinated to a number of taboos that must be rigorously stuck to; no freeborn, for illustration, cuts an osu’s hair, crosses an osu’s legs, cohabits with an osu, or marries an osu. An osu doesn’t attend gatherings of free men, and indeed when they’re there, they don’t have any direct influence over choices.

An osu’s reference group in diurnal conditioning, as well as in all of his life achievements, is the community of his fellow osu, not the freeborn; therefore, he can marry, choose a woman from an osu community; he can take titles, enjoy the benefits or prestige within the osu community, because no bone recognizes the titles outside of it. He is not supposed to be in any kind of religious office. In Igbo traditional culture, the rejection of osu from political position reclamation is thus plain and unchallenged. An Osu is a man or womanish blessed and devoted to gods in order to satisfy the gods and take down sins, disasters, and ill effects that may transpire the dedicator, according to Uchendu( 1965), Arinze( 1978), Obute( 1995), and Dike( 2002). He’s a immolation light, as well as a slave or property of the god to whom he’s committed. The oru( ohu), a commonnon-ritual slave, is in a vastly better position than the osu. Of course, circumstances vary from place to place. The oru is the target of several taboos, social rejection, and one who suffers from a political inferiority complex. Olisa( 2002), citing Jones, characterized the oru as an average joe who demanded the support of his cousins. Only a portion of this notion is valid. Some oru were vended by their relations for colorful reasons, and in this situation, they had truly lost their relations’s support. numerous oru, on the other hand, were strongly taken at first, important to the chagrin of their clan. Both feathers of oru have no cousins in their new status as oru. The important thing to flash back about the oru is that he was captured and possessed. As the slaves multiply through time and form families, the power element melts down, but they still warrant land titles and political power.

Statement of the Problem

Since the actuality of the Igbo community, the issue of Osu and its associated difficulties have was( Dike, 2002). The issue dates back to the payoff of binary babies, the payoff of innocent children for the development of the upper incisor( teeth), the immolation of mortal offerings, the problematic ideas of reincarnation, and other practices that were formerly rehearsed in the ancient Igbo nation and other nations in Nigeria and Africa at large. As a result, the Osu estate structure has evolved over multitudinous generations. still, since utmost Igbos see it as an inalienable element of their culture that can not be readily altered or acclimated, all attempts to remove it have proven futile and illusory. moment, the difficulty created by this system has expanded beyond ordinary social and artistic enterprises to include political, profitable, and philosophical enterprises. According to the reciprocal point of view, the Igbos are a people who believe in the complementary reciprocal of each existent’s work and aptitude. This may be observed in their maxim” Agbakota Aka nyuo mmamiri Ogbo ufufu,” which means” the intended end will be attained if all sweats are brought together.” Igbos also believed in the conception of” Ibu anyi danda,” which basically means” if everyone joins their sweats, there would be no weight too big for them to lift.” likewise, they believe in the collective oneness of all factors that make up the whole or absolute. therefore, their aphorism” Egbe bere Ugo bere”; and kasomadina simply demonstrates their belief in the emulsion and collective union of all mortal beings and their trials. Because of its training on perceiving certain people as lower, less mortal, and so on, the Osu estate opposes these ideals, and it becomes a major issue that begs for a sensible result( Amalu, 2018).

Ideal Of The Study

The primary ideal of the study is as follows

1. To identify the practices of Osu estate system

2. To examine the effect of Osu estate system on citizens civil right.

3. To ascertain the social recrimination of Osu estate system

4. To examine the measures that can be used to meliorate the Osu estate system

5. To examine the invalidation attempt of the Osu estate system

Exploration Suppositions

The following thesis have been formulated for the study

H01 Osu estate system doesn’t have any social counteraccusations .

H02 Osu estate system doesn’t have an effect on citizens civil right.

Exploration Methodology

exploration methodology deals with the different ways or styles the experimenter applied in order to carry out the exploration as well as the instrument used for gathering the data. There are several exploration methodologies applicable for answering the exploration questions. The type of exploration methodology used in this exploration to gather data and applicable information is the literal exploration and the study will borrow descriptive system of data collection. This will involve the collection of accoutrements from primary and secondary sources, similar as books, journal papers, magazines, internet sources, interviews, transnational and public conference proceedings, published and unpublished papers.

Organization of the Study

To achieve the purpose of this exploration. The study is divided into fiveinter-connected chapters, ranging from chapter one to five.

In this chapter one the experimenter has been suitable to give an preface to the work, state the problem that bear this study, outline the questions this work seek to answer as well as the objects it hopes to achieve. The compass and limitations of this study were outlined as well as the methodology that was used for the study.

Chapter two deals with literature review, practices of Osu estate system. Chapter three bandy the social recrimination of Osu estate system. Chapter four delves into the invalidation attempt of the Osu estate system,etc. while chapter five deals with the summary, recommendations and conclusion.

Significance of the study

This study examines the Osu Caste System in Igbo Land, Nigeria.

The study will be salutary to the people of igbo origin as it’ll exfoliate further light to the detriment been done to an Osu person and it’ll also make them see reasons why this archaic tradition shouldn’t be allowed to continue.

His study will be of benefit to the academic community as it’ll contribute to the being literature on the Osu estate system and also serve as a companion to pupil who might want to further in the study.

Compass Of The Study

This study examines the Osu Caste System in Igbo Land, Nigeria. The study will also identify the practices of Osu estate system. The study will further examine the effect of Osu estate system on citizens civil right. More so the study will ascertain the social recrimination of Osu estate system. likewise the study examine the measures that can be used to meliorate the Osu estate system. Eventually, the study will examine the invalidation attempt of the Osu estate system. Hence this study will be demarcated to Anambra state.

Limitation of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows

Just like any other exploration, ranging from attainability of demanded accurate accoutrements on the content under study, incapability to get data

Financial constraint, was faced by the experimenter, in getting applicable accoutrements and in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor time factor disguise another constraint since having to shuttle between jotting of the exploration and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the experimenter

Description Of Terms

Osu estate system an ancient practice in Igboland that discourages social commerce and marriage with a group of persons called Osu.