No law to enforce abrogation of ‘Osu’ caste system – Community leader

The Chairman of the traditional title holders, Nze Na Ozo, in Abba Community of Nwangele local government area of Imo, Nze Kenneth C. Anyanjo, has said that there is no formal law spelling out sanctions for anybody who goes against the abrogation/abolition of the caste system.

Rather Anyanjo said that the law was to be enforced by moral suasion and the abolition of rites performed by the traditional title holders as part of the abrogation process.

Abba community had, on December 27, at an elaborate ceremony made away with the more than 500-year-old tradition of the Osu/Ohu and Ume, system, which segregates people according to birth and lineage.

The ceremony brought to an end the tagging of some indigenes as outcastes and others as freeborn.

Anyanjo speaking to our correspondent on the progress made so far since the ceremony was held said, “You know that the Osu caste system has existed for centuries and it will equally take time for our people to assimilate the import of our action. But right now the awareness has been made and the path well laid for final abrogation of this obnoxious system. It will take time to erase from people’s memories.

“It is not possible to formulate or make formal laws spelling out sanctions since this is a traditional thing. In abolishing the system, we went through the hog, using both traditional and religious values and but we all understand the consequences of traditional rites of abolition (Iyi ofo) and anybody that goes against the gods of the land will have himself or herself to blame.

“Also at the final ceremony, Christians prayed for the success of the abrogation and it was led by no other person than the Catholic Archbishop himself, JVC Obinna. There was an agreement and we all participated in the process. And so it was in totality, an agreement by the people of Abba to do away with this system and we believe that it will work,” he added.

He said that the Abba community has provided a model for others, who still believed in the system to follow.

“We have provided a model or a pathway for others to follow. They should learn from us to ensure that this system is completely eradicated in Igbo land because it is a slur on our modern value system.”